Scholarship appeal seeking help for neediest families

$267,000 tuition gap needs to be bridged, associate superintendent says

Published: November 10, 2017

A diocese-wide appeal will kick off Nov. 11-12 to raise money for scholarships for low-income students in Catholic schools.

The annual Catholic Schools of Arkansas Scholarship Appeal provides funding to schools to offset unfunded aid to qualified students. The fund was created in 2013 to close the gap between what families request in assistance and what the schools are able to provide from their own endowment funds and fundraisers.

According to Marguerite Olberts, an associate superintendent for the Diocese of Little Rock, 907 students qualified for tuition assistance during this school year. The families requested $3.5 million in assistance, but the schools were only able to contribute $3.2 million.

The Catholic Schools Offices is asking Catholics around the state to close the gap of $267,141 this year.

In 2016 the diocese sent about $17,000 to 38 students in nine schools with the greatest needs. Olberts said there were more students who qualified for diocesan assistance, but there were not enough funds. Students in Fort Smith, Hot Springs, Little Rock and Russellville were given $500 to $1,000 each.

Only schools that use the Facts Tuition and Aid Management Company, a third-party company, are available to receive diocesan appeal funds, Olberts said. Seven schools don’t use Facts and are thus not eligible to receive the scholarships.

Send your tax-deductible donation to: Catholic Schools Scholarship Appeal, Diocese of Little Rock, P.O. Box 7565, Little Rock, AR 72217-7565 or donate online at givecentral.org/arkansas.