For many South Jersey families, the desire to provide their children with a Catholic education is strong. Yet for many, the cost can make that goal difficult to reach.
The South Jersey Scholarship Fund (SJSF) works to bridge that gap, helping families access Catholic education through tuition assistance grants to South Jersey Catholic Schools or that are distributed through the Catholic schools. On March 19, supporters of Catholic schools will gather at The Legacy Club in Cherry Hill for a special breakfast fundraiser titled “Shaping Futures Through Catholic Education.”
Hosted in conjunction with the Catholic Business Network of South Jersey, the event will raise funds for the South Jersey Scholarship Fund, which provides tuition assistance for students attending Catholic elementary and high schools throughout the Diocese of Camden.
Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available at cbnsj.org/sjsf.
“Support is so important because a substantial gap exists between the number of families seeking tuition assistance and the funding currently available,” said Stacy Napolitano, director of development for the Diocese of Camden and SJSF board member. “Closing this gap would help hundreds of students whose families have difficulty affording a Catholic school education.”
Across the Diocese of Camden, families apply each year for tuition assistance. Donations to the South Jersey Scholarship Fund help make it possible for students from diverse backgrounds to attend Catholic schools that nurture both academic achievement and faith formation.
The March breakfast will feature Bishop Joseph Williams and keynote speaker Ed Wade, former Philadelphia Phillies general manager and a member of the Phillies Wall of Fame. Wade, a longtime supporter of the Catholic faith, previously addressed the ManUp South Jersey Men’s Spirituality Conference.
During the event, Msgr. Andrew Martin, president emeritus of Camden Catholic High School in Cherry Hill, will receive special recognition for his decades of dedication to Catholic education.
“Msgr. Martin is a longtime supporter of the SJSF, board member and champion of Catholic education, and he was a tireless teacher and administrator in South Jersey schools for five decades,” Napolitano said. “Further, he has continued to support of Catholic education in his retirement.”
“This year is the 25th anniversary of the SJSF,” she added. “The event represents an opportunity for SJSF board members and supporters to celebrate the past and look forward to future growth to help more families in the years to come.”
Members of the Catholic Business Network of South Jersey have played an important role in organizing the event and promoting the mission of the scholarship fund.
“When SJSF decided to have their first fundraiser, they asked CBN if we would help in the planning, and a few of our members joined the SJSF fundraising event committee,” said Jeff Morris, president of the Catholic Business Network of South Jersey and a member of the event committee.
Support from sponsors has also helped make the event possible. Current sponsors, in addition to the CBN, include Porter & Curtis, Aqueduct Plumbing Services, Environmental Resolutions Inc., Paul Kupcha, MD; Rev. Monsignor Andrew E. Martin; Tom Iacovone Sr., along with additional supporters participating through sponsorship opportunities connected to the breakfast.
Organizers hope the gathering will not only raise funds but also inspire greater awareness of the importance of supporting Catholic education and providing an opportunity to invest in the academic, spiritual, and moral formation of the next generation of South Jersey students.
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