The Spring Sprint for Scholarships is underway to provide tuition assistance to Catholic schools students in the Diocese of Camden. Established in 2001, the South Jersey Scholarship Fund (SJSF) has awarded more than $3 million in scholarships since inception.
The distribution for the current school year was just over $50,000, shared among all 29 diocesan schools. The unmet need for tuition assistance was nearly $2 million.
The SJSF board has recently grown, and members are enthusiastic about creating new sources of income to provide tuition assistance to families in need. The Star Herald recently met with board president Bill Curtis to learn more about the fund and his commitment to Catholic school students. A long-time supporter of Catholic education, Curtis is a partner at Porter & Curtis, LLC, a consultative commercial property and casualty insurance brokerage firm in Media, Pennsylvania. The Diocese of Camden is among several dioceses that have a long-term business relationship with Porter & Curtis.
What is your personal experience or connection with Catholic schools?
I went to Catholic school for four years with my brothers and sisters, but my parents couldn’t afford to keep us there. Fortunately, I was able to send my own three children to Catholic schools, all the way through college. Aside from my role as a school parent, I was one of the founders of the Independence Mission Schools, a group of 15 urban Catholic schools slated for closure in Philadelphia in 2012. With independent funding and management, we were able to keep the schools open. I serve on the board there, and I also started a scholarship fund for Independence Mission School graduates to attend one of the Catholic Vo-tech programs in Philadelphia.
Why is it important to you to make a Catholic school education available to all families who seek it?
Education is the key to helping people lift themselves out of poverty or improve themselves in general. I sent my own children to Catholic school, so if I am going to support education for others, it’s going to be in the Catholic tradition for the same reasons. My children were so well prepared for college, not just academically, but as whole people. The messages they got at school were consistent with what I was trying to give them at home about the faith and the truth and life in the world. They weren’t being educated in a vacuum. They were being educated with the full perspective of the church. I want to help others afford that same experience.
What are some of the key factors that set Catholic schools apart?
Well, everything! There is the obvious faith component and the values that come with that. Catholic schools are unabashedly countercultural, and I think that offers students and families a great sense of security, a feeling of respect that is unique. Catholic schools respect the role of parents in the education of their children, and the needs of the children always come first. The fact that Catholic schools have been open since September tells you everything you need to know about the respect Catholic school teachers have for children. Our schools exist for the benefit of the children.
How and when did you get involved with the South Jersey Scholarship fund?
Bill Murray [former CFO for the Diocese of Camden] knew I was supportive of Catholic education, and he asked me to get involved when the scholarship fund was created in 2001. I am one of the original board members. I live and work in Pennsylvania, but I’m happy to support Catholic school education in this region any way I can, from whatever side of the river I’m on.
Why were you drawn to serve on the board of the Scholarship Fund?
Our dreams for our children aren’t limited by our income. So many families want a Catholic school education for their children but can’t afford it. In New Jersey, which doesn’t offer any tax incentives or vouchers, the Scholarship Fund is the best way to help those families. There are so many great things going on in Catholic schools, and there are people with the resources to help others. I’m motivated to reach out to individuals and businesses to make that connection. I believe keeping Catholic school education alive is a collective responsibility for our laity. We have to stop thinking “the church” will take care of it. We are the church.
Does the Diocese of Camden manage the Scholarship Fund?
No. The fund was set up as a non-profit under 501c(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is separate from the diocese and managed by the Board of Trustees. We determine each year how to allocate the funds among all of the schools. Deposits can’t stay in the fund for longer than two years, and every dollar in the fund directly supports student scholarships.
Why should businesses have an interest in supporting Catholic schools?
I’m not sure there is anything more important than a good education. I don’t know what better thing we can do for kids and families than to educate them and give them an authentic rendering of the Catholic faith. Today’s students are tomorrow’s workforce. It’s in our best interest to help develop students who will have a meaningful impact on the world. I see it as an investment in future leaders with the right academic and social skills, and a strong moral compass.
What comes to mind when you hear a Catholic school education described as “The Gift of a Lifetime”?
A Catholic school education will benefit a student every day of their life. And it will benefit the rest of us in the way they live their lives. My children are all adults now. When people compliment me on their accomplishments, I always credit the schools they attended. After all, kids spend more time at school than they do at home. You know, the average graduation rate from high school is about 65% nationally. In South Jersey Catholic Schools it’s 99%, and more than 96% of those graduates go on to college. Think about the opportunities those students will have, and the way the world will benefit from their success. That is the gift of a lifetime.
Donations to the South Jersey Scholarship Fund are accepted all year long. The Spring Sprint is a concentrated effort to strengthen scholarship opportunities in all schools for the coming school year. For more information and to make a contribution, visit http://bit.ly/SJScholarshipFund or call 856-583-6125.