CHARLOTTE — The Diocese of Charlotte’s “Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love” campaign is funding $140,000 in tuition assistance this fall that will help dozens of students receive a Catholic education.
The FFHL campaign funds capital projects, endowments and other needs across the growing diocese. Included in the $65 million campaign is a tuition assistance endowment available to the diocese’s 20 schools.
The $140,000 is going to seven diocesan schools that applied for the 2023-’24 school year: Asheville Catholic School, $54,000; Bishop McGuinness High School in Kernersville, $40,000; Immaculata School in Hendersonville, $3,500; Immaculate Heart of Mary School in High Point, $11,000; Our Lady of Grace School in Greensboro, $2,000; Sacred Heart School in Salisbury, $23,000; and St. Michael School in Gastonia, $6,500.
The funds are expected to help participating Catholic families who have the greatest financial need.
“We are grateful for the generosity of the ‘Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love’ funding,” said Erin Brinkley, principal of Sacred Heart School in Salisbury, where 35 students are receiving tuition assistance from these funds. “Investing in our students enables us to facilitate their personal growth, development and education, which can lead to so much opportunity. Additionally, it will enable us to extend our mission of creating saints and positively impact the future of our Church.”
The FFHL tuition assistance endowment, with more than $4.3 million in assets, is administered by a committee consisting of the diocese’s schools superintendent, chief financial officer and members of the diocesan school board. Available income from the endowment is distributed to qualifying diocesan schools that apply each year for student financial aid.
An endowment is a permanent fund, the principal of which is never touched, but the income from which can be used according to the wishes of the donor organization or person. Endowments provide a way to generate income and help sustain the long-term strength and viability of the recipient parish, school or ministry.
To date, a total of $870,230 in FFHL funding has been awarded to the diocese’s schools. In its first year in 2017, FFHL tuition assistance totaling $49,372 was given out to four diocesan schools. In 2022, $130,000 was awarded to eight schools.
“We are grateful to all the FFHL donors who help us continue striving to make Catholic education affordable and accessible to all,” said Dr. Greg Monroe, diocesan superintendent of Catholic schools. “Thanks to their support, more families can benefit from a quality Catholic education.”
“The FFHL campaign continues to have a significant and meaningful impact,” added Jim Kelley, diocesan director of development. “The $870,000 in tuition assistance that has been distributed to date helps students receive an education that will literally change their lives.”
To qualify for the tuition assistance money, the school must receive local parish support of at least $500 per participating Catholic student and must have awarded all of its tuition assistance funds it already has for that school year. Schools that do not receive $500 per student in parish support may be considered if there are extenuating financial circumstances that preclude this level of support. Qualifying schools may request funds from the FFHL endowment for participating Catholic students with a financial need.
The tuition assistance endowment is one of seven endowments funded through the FFHL campaign.
— Catholic News Herald
CHARLOTTE — The Diocese of Charlotte Foundation manages 92 endowments with a total market value of approximately $16.1 million that generate income to directly aid the diocese’s schools and their students:
- Ad Meliora Endowment Fund: Financial support for facility improvements and beautification initiatives at Christ the King High School.
- American Schlafhorst Scholarship Endowment Fund: Scholarship assistance for students at Charlotte Catholic High School.
- Archibong Family Endowment Fund: Provides for the general needs of Bishop McGuinness High School in Kernersville.
- Asheville Catholic School Foundation Endowment Fund: Financial support to enable the school to retain quality teachers, offer scholarship assistance, provide continuing education for teachers, and enhance the school’s curriculum.
- Joseph and Margaret Baldi Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for children of St. Leo Parish families to attend St. Leo School in Winston-Salem.
- Bishop McGuinness High School Endowment Fund: Financial support for the education of students at this school in Kernersville.
- Joan W. Books Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for children of Immaculate Conception Parish to attend Immaculata School in Hendersonville.
- Don and Mary Gay Brady Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students at Our Lady of Grace School in Greensboro.
- Elizabeth Allen Brown Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students at Asheville Catholic School.
- Molly Cassidy Scholarship Fund: Tuition assistance for Triad area Catholic school students.
- Catholic Charities Asheville Endowment Fund: Provides for the general needs of this ministry in Asheville.
- Catholic Education Endowment Fund: Scholarships for students attending Catholic elementary schools in the diocese.
- Charlotte Catholic High School Alumni Association Scholarship Endowment Fund: Scholarships for graduating seniors to attend a college of their choice.
- Charlotte Catholic High School Alumni Association Board Discretionary Endowment Fund: Financial assistance, at the board’s discretion, to Charlotte Catholic High School students.
- Charlotte Catholic High School Endowment Fund: Benefits Charlotte Catholic High School.
- James P. and Eunice S. Cherry Scholarship Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students to attend St. Michael School in Gastonia.
- Cornelius Alexander Davis Fund: Tuition assistance for students at St. Leo School in Winston-Salem.
- Digger Dawson Scholarship Endowment Fund: Scholarship assistance for students from Immaculate Conception Church attending Immaculata School in Hendersonville.
- Derhofer Endowment Fund: For drama department productions, capital needs related to the drama department, and tuition assistance for students at Bishop McGuinness High School.
- Deussen Scholarship Endowment Fund: Scholarships for Catholic high school education in the greater Charlotte area.
- Stephen and Jessica Dey Options Endowment Fund: Benefits the “Options” programs at the diocese’s schools.
- Faucette Endowment Fund: Financial assistance for the educational ministry of the diocese’s schools.
- ‘Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love’ campaign endowment: Tuition assistance
- Gayden and Janell Gauthier Fund: Tuition scholarship assistance for students at Immaculata School in Hendersonville.
- Mary Gay and Don Brady Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance of faculty children for TRIAD schools.
- George L. Repass Memorial Tuition Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students attending Bishop McGuinness High School.
- O’Brien and William Edwards Gibbs Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students at Asheville Catholic School.
- Gismondi Family Endowment Fund: Scholarship assistance for children of St. Mark Church parishioners to attend Christ the King High School in Huntersville.
- Bobbie Grant Memorial Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students attending Bishop McGuinness High School.
- Megan Healy Scholarship Endowment Fund: Scholarship assistance for students at St. Patrick School in Charlotte.
- Edith and George Hilbert Endowment Fund for Asheville Catholic School: Financial support for the education of students at Asheville Catholic School.
- Holy Family Catholic Church Scholarship Endowment Fund: Catholic school tuition assistance (K-12) for members of Holy Family Parish.
- Holy Trinity Catholic Middle School Endowment Fund: Supports the general needs of Holy Trinity Middle School.
- Immaculata School Endowment Fund: Scholarship assistance for students at Immaculata School in Hendersonville.
- Immaculate Heart of Mary School Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students at Immaculate Heart of Mary School in High Point.
- Roger Kavanagh Tuition Assistance Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students at St. Pius X School in Greensboro.
- Leeolou Family Scholarship Endowment Fund: Scholarship assistance for Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools families.
- LeFeber Endowment: This fund provides tuition assistance to students at Immaculata Catholic School in Hendersonville.
- LoBianco Family Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students at St. Therese of Lisieux Church in Mooresville and St. Mark Church in Huntersville to attend Christ the King High School.
- Manley Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students of families at St. Eugene Church to attend Catholic elementary school.
- Beth Maren Scholarship Endowment Fund: Scholarship assistance to Catholic students at UNC-Charlotte.
- Sister Terry Martin Scholarship Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students matriculating in higher education from Clay and Cherokee counties.
- Catherine McAuley Endowment Fund: Scholarships to Catholic students attending Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools.
- Francis J. McGrail Scholarship Endowment Fund: Scholarship assistance to students of Immaculate Heart of Mary School in High Point.
- Lee McGuiness Endowment: Benefits the Charlotte Catholic High School Alumni Association.
- Sandy McMonagle Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students at Our Lady of Mercy School in Winston-Salem.
- Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools Education Development Council: Assistance to the nine MACS schools in the Charlotte area.
- Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools (MACS) Special Needs Endowment Fund: For Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools’ students with special needs
- Reverend Enrique A. Mendez, S.D.B. Endowment Fund: Provides for needy alumni from Colegio San Julian, in Guines, Province of Havana, Cuba, and/or their families or persons associated with Salesian Schools.
- Katelyn Mitchell Student Athlete Scholarship Endowment Fund: For the benefit of a student-athlete in sixth, seventh or eighth grade at St. Pius X School in Greensboro.
- Monsignor Lawrence C. Newman Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students at Our Lady of Mercy School in Winston-Salem.
- Victor Nussbaum Jr. Educational Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students at St. Pius X School in Greensboro.
- Chris and Margaret Onulak Endowment Fund: Provides for the general needs of Asheville Catholic School.
- Our Lady of Grace School Endowment Fund: For the general needs of the school.
- Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic School Fund: For the general needs of Our Lady of the school.
- Poutre Family Endowment Fund: For the general needs of Immaculata School in Hendersonville.
- Quinn Family Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students at Immaculata School in Hendersonville.
- Clark G. Ross Scholarship Endowment Fund: Scholarship assistance for Catholic high school students from parishes in Mecklenburg, Iredell, Cabarrus and Rowan counties.
- Clark G. Ross St. Therese Church Scholarship Endowment Fund: For the benefit of parishioners at St. Therese Church to provide college scholarships.
- Sacred Heart School Endowment Fund: For the general needs of the school.
- Sheridan-Mangan Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students at Asheville Catholic School.
- Sisters of Mercy Scholarship Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students at St. Michael School in Gastonia.
- Sisters of St. Joseph Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for Bishop McGuinness High School students.
- Victoria Sleeman Endowment Fund: Scholarships for students of Immaculate Conception Church to attend Immaculata School in Hendersonville.
- Frank Spinks Endowment Fund: For professional development activities for the staff at Immaculata School in Hendersonville.
- Mary Spinks Endowment Fund: For scholarship assistance to minority students at Immaculata School in Hendersonville.
- Michael Sullivan Endowment Fund: Scholarships for graduates of Charlotte Catholic High School.
- St. Ann School Endowment Fund: For the general needs of the school.
- St. Gabriel School Endowment Fund: For the general needs of the school.
- St. John the Baptist Church Memorial Endowment Fund: Scholarship assistance to graduating high school seniors from this parish in Tryon for attendance at post-secondary schools.
- St. Joseph Scholarship Endowment Fund: Scholarship assistance for students at Asheville Catholic School.
- St. Lawrence Council (1695) Student Scholarship Endowment Fund: Financial assistance for the educational needs of council members’ and deceased members’ children.
- St. Leo School Endowment Fund: Scholarship assistance for St. Leo students.
- St. Mark School Endowment Fund: For the general needs of the school.
n St. Mary Church Scholarship Endowment Fund: Scholarship assistance for children of St. Mary’s parishioners attending Our Lady of Grace and St. Pius X schools in Greensboro and Bishop McGuinness High School in Kernersville. - St. Mary’s Church College Scholarship Endowment Fund: Scholarship assistance for students from St. Mary’s Church in Greensboro who attend Belmont Abbey College.
- St. Matthew School Endowment Fund: For the general needs of the school.
- St. Michael School Endowment Fund: For the general needs of the school.
- St. Pius X School Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students at the school.
- St. Therese Church Scholarship Endowment Fund: Support for post-secondary education for the youth of the parish, who have demonstrated a commitment to service within this parish in Mooresville and/or their community.
- Theresa Lasecki Talbert Scholarship Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students at Bishop McGuinness High School in Kernersville.
- Remo and Carolyn Termini Endowment Fund: Scholarships for students attending Asheville Catholic School.
- John Michael Thompson Endowment Fund: For the benefit of Sacred Heart School in Salisbury.
- F. Joseph Treacy Endowment Fund: For scholarship assistance for students in all nine MACS schools.
- Triad Educational Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance to students attending a Catholic elementary or high school in the Triad area.
- Villalon Family Endowment Fund: Financial assistance for students at Bishop McGuinness High School in Kernersville.
- Sabrina Watt Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students at Immaculata School in Hendersonville.
- Sister Paulette Williams Scholarship Endowment Fund: Scholarships for graduating seniors from Charlotte Catholic High School to attend a college of their choice.
- Woelfel Family Endowment Fund: Financial assistance at Our Lady of Grace School for student educational purposes, such as purchasing textbooks or technology needs.
- Wos-Dejoy Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students at St. Pius X School in Greensboro.
- Yates-Murphy Educational Trust Scholarship Endowment Fund: Scholarships for students of Holy Name Church in New Bedford, Mass.
- Sister Emma Yondura Endowment: For the benefit of St. Leo School in Winston-Salem.
Fund a named endowment
Interested in setting up a named endowment or adding to an existing endowment at your parish or Catholic school? Establish an endowment in the Diocese of Charlotte Foundation by leaving a bequest in a will; a beneficiary designation from a retirement plan; a gift of real estate; a gift of life insurance, cash or securities sufficient to set up an endowment; or a life income arrangement, such as a trust or annuity. For details, contact Gina Rhodes at 704-370-3364 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..