September 25, 2007

Students apply for tuition aid

The new Catholic Elementary School Tuition Aid Program (CTAP) in the Diocese of Buffalo has successfully finished its inaugural year. In the spring, the Foundation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo announced that applications were being accepted for a new needs-based tuition aid program for Catholic elementary schools.

“Not unexpectedly,” said David J. Kersten, executive director of the Foundation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo, “the need in the community for tuition aid for Catholic elementary education is significant. More than 1,500 children applied for $250,000 in aid. This represented approximately $200,000 short of what was needed to meet the total need of the applicants.”

Kersten explained that through the generosity of some donors, an additional $32,000 was added bringing the total amount of aid to $282,000. These funds will allow many students to attend Catholic parish-based or regional elementary schools in the 2007-2008 school year by receiving up to $500 in aid. Families must demonstrate need for aid according to an Income Eligibility Scale to qualify for consideration and must commit to paying a minimum of $500 in tuition for the child(ren).

Community members are invited to contribute to the Foundation’s endowments to enhance the CTAP funding for the coming year.

For more information about endowments or to establish a scholarship fund, contact the Foundation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo, 795 Main St., Buffalo 14203, 847-8370 or visit their Web site at www.FRCDB.org.

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