Helen Persing says she’ll take every penny she can get to help families afford a Catholic education at Saint John Paul II Regional School in Stratford, where she serves as principal. Sixty percent of current students qualified for tuition assistance at her school this year. Persing was able to meet about half of that need, which was more than $650,000, from a variety of sources.
At Saint John Paul II, like all Catholic schools in the Diocese of Camden, most financial need is met at the individual school level. Local tuition assistance is allocated in the school budget, while some funding comes from established scholarships and donors. School principals play an active role ensuring funds are distributed equitably for families in need.
Limited assistance is available at the diocesan level through a variety of established scholarships, including the South Jersey Scholarship Fund (SJSF). Since its inception in 2001, the fund has raised over $3 million to help families with tuition expenses.
In September, the SJSF distributed over $50,000, providing tuition support to 75 students in the 29 diocesan schools for the current school year. According to Mariann Gilbride, Director of Development for the Diocese of Camden and a member of the board of trustees for the fund, most of the 2020 contributions were made in honor of Bishop Dennis Sullivan.
“When people asked about gifts for his 75th birthday and the 15th anniversary of his ordination as a bishop, he would say, ‘Don’t give it to me. Give it to the South Jersey Scholarship Fund, which supports school families with tuition assistance.’ I think people like to give a gift that helps others, especially now when so many people are experiencing financial hardship.” said Gilbride.
The current board of trustees of the SJSF is working to build and develop donor relationships and increase contributions to the fund. Established under section 501c(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, the fund is separate from the diocese and not impacted by the Chapter 11 reorganization announced in October.
Once the total disbursement in a given year is determined, each school learns the amount they will receive. The school then decides which student(s) will receive assistance, based on financial need. New registrants and existing students may qualify.
“All donations are restricted, which means every dollar supports students,” said Gilbride.
For principal Persing, “Every little bit helps. I look at it as a chance for a child to get a Catholic education.” She said she does everything she can to avoid turning families away because of finances, but sometimes there are simply no more funds available.
Principal Linda Pirolli at Saint Vincent de Paul Regional School is grateful for outside help as well.
“The fund gives us a little more money to be able to give to a family … to fill in the holes,” she said. “Ever since it was started, the fund has been a big help to us.”
Pirolli is particularly sensitive to the needs of families who have unexpected hardships, like disability or unemployment. “We like to be able to help them behind the scenes. That’s what we do here,” she said.
Nearly half the students who attend Catholic schools in the Diocese of Camden qualify for tuition assistance. In the 2019-20 school year, the need was $11 million. Schools were able to provide about $9 million of assistance from a number of sources, leaving $2 million in need. Gilbride hopes the SJSF can grow and help narrow that gap.
“Many people understand the value of a Catholic School education, but may not currently be connected to a particular school,” said Gilbride. “The South Jersey Scholarship Fund is a perfect vehicle to support all schools. Donors can make the choice of Catholic school a reality for families who don’t have the financial resources.”
To support students wishing to attend or remain in a South Jersey Catholic school, visit https://16042.thankyou4caring.org/south-jersey-scholarship-fund.
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