Dear Friends,

We are well into the academic year and delighted to report our students and teachers are fully engaged in “in person” learning. The Diocese of Bridgeport Schools’ classrooms may look different, and masks may have become the newest fashion statement, but rest assured - active and enthusiastic personalized learning is making a huge difference for our students.

Thanks to the selfless generosity of friends, Foundations in Education was able to award nearly $2,700,000 in tuition assistance to more than 1,200 elementary school students through the Bishop’s Scholarship Fund. Twenty-six donors sponsored 73 Leaders of Tomorrow this year!

By the grace of God, an anonymous donor contributed an additional $1,000,000 in COVID-19 Emergency Funds to assist families suffering from hardships as a direct result of the pandemic. This provided an additional 457 awards! Our hats are off to the tireless efforts of the Scholarship Committee who worked overtime this summer to assure the funds available were distributed to those who needed it most. We are grateful to the donor(s) and volunteers who touched so very many lives.

A number of teachers submitted their applications for Innovation and Leadership Grants by the October 31 deadline and the Grants Committee anticipates an inspiring set of applications this year. We are eager to see if the lessons of last spring inspired new and innovative ideas for what instruction of the future may look like.

On behalf of the Foundations Staff and Board, we miss you! We missed celebrating Catholic Education with you, our friends, at what would have been our spring gala. We missed celebrating our amazing students at what would have been our Leaders of Tomorrow Reception. Absence does make the heart grow fonder and we extend our heartfelt gratitude to you as we anticipate reuniting with you again in 2021.

Thank you for your ongoing support of our teachers and students, especially through what has proven a terribly challenging time. Your contribution to Foundations in Education transforms lives and for this we are most grateful.

With appreciation and best wishes for your health and well-being.

Holly Doherty-Lemoine, CFRE, Executive Director