Cristo Rey Boston Receives $250K COVID Scholarship Grant from Catholic Schools Foundation
The Catholic Schools Foundation (CSF) will provide an additional $250K grant to Cristo Rey Boston High School for the 2020-2021 school year. This grant is given in response to the extraordinary and emergent need brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the Cristo Rey School. This funding will provide scholarships to financially in-need students that will otherwise be lost due to the recent decline in Corporate Work Study jobs available to Cristo Rey students.
Cristo Rey Boston is part of the Cristo Rey Network, a series of 37 Catholic schools across the country that integrate a college preparatory curriculum with four years of professional work experience through their Corporate Work Study Program (CWSP). This unique model exclusively serves financially in-need students, and students’ tuition is offset by their internships through the CWSP. Cristo Rey Boston is a CSF Sponsored School and the foundation supports a job team in addition to the 20 students at Cristo Rey that receive scholarship support as CSF Scholars.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the school anticipates significant lost revenue from the loss of jobs in the CWSP. Many corporate partners are unable to support student work study jobs, either because of COVID-related economic downtown or because offices will not be open to host the students. With the $250K grant, Cristo Rey can continue to offer scholarships to students and in lieu of internships, the school will increase student work training and academic support. This work training is designed to enhance the workplace performance and satisfaction for both corporate partners and for students when they are able to return.
“Cristo Rey Boston provides a unique and engaging experience for students that fosters hard work and success beyond high school while serving the most in-need students,” said Mike Reardon, Executive Director of the Catholic Schools Foundation. “We are so proud to invest in the future of these students, especially during the COVID-19 crisis, and support them in their academic careers.”
The $250K grant must be used by Cristo Rey Boston to implement a 1:1 fundraising match for new or increased gifts to the school in FY21. Leveraging the match will help propel the school with its own fundraising goals, maximize giving and provide confidence to donors and the Cristo Rey community. This is critical in a time when the impact of the COVID-19 crisis and additional federal funding is still evolving and unknown.
“We are so grateful for our ongoing partnership with the Catholic Schools Foundation,” shared Cristo Rey Boston High School President, Rosemary Powers. “CSF’s support, as a Corporate Work Study Partner and in the form of this generous $250,000 matching gift, will make an enormous difference in the lives of our students as it sets them on the path for future college and career success.”
The Catholic Schools Foundation is a nonprofit that provides over 4,000 scholarships per year for low-income students to attend high-quality, values-based Catholic schools. Of the students who receive scholarship support from CSF, 100% graduate high school and 98% matriculate to college. These scholarships are expanding access to quality education and providing real opportunities to those most in-need.
“My education at Cristo Rey Boston has changed my life and is preparing me to succeed in high school and college,” said Lufus, Class of 2021 at Cristo Rey Boston. “Because of my work study internship, I can see myself in a successful professional career. My teachers, through their love and high expectations, have instilled in me the confidence that lets me imagine a bright future.”