A Matching Grant for Our Catholic Schools

6 A Matching Grant for Our Catholic Schools �everal months ago, a grant opportunity was presented to our elementary Catholic schools across the Diocese of Winona-Rochester. The Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation is also offering the DOW-R Office of Catholic Schools a challenge grant, which will support our elementary Catholic schools with an opportunity to enhance educational excellence and grow enrollment. The Schulze Family Foundation offered a “Challenge Matching Grant” for up to $50,000. The Office of Catholic Schools will be required to raise $50,000 and the Schulze Foundation will match the $50,000, totaling $100,000.

The deadline for this matching grant is April 30, 2020. The Office of Catholic Schools has presently received $41,359 .81 with a total number of 215 donors toward the matching grant and will need to raise an additional $8,640 .19 to reach the $50,000match. The Schulze Foundation Challenge Grant for the Office of Catholic Schools would: • assist teachers in keeping student learning the priority, • ensure teachers and administrators obtain the adequate knowledge on assessment, which drives curriculum, and • treat each classroom's student learning objectives uniquely, while recognizing the need to have similar expectations for all teachers. The entire $100,000 matching grant will be divided equally and applied to each individual Catholic elementary school for professional development. Professional development provides the necessary training for teachers to remain current on new resources and tools for educational improvement. This directly impacts all of our 4,350 students attending all of our Catholic elementary schools in the DOW-R.

If you have not donated toward the matching grant, we invite you to participate with a jubilant and open heart. Donations may be sent to the:

Catholic Foundation of Southern Minnesota Box 30098 Winona, MN 55987 Please direct any questions to Monica Herman at mherman@catholicfsmn.org or 507-858-1276. Catholic education in the Diocese of WinonaRochester is a ministry of the Church which is integral to our faith. Our Catholic schools are an expression of our faith and a gift to all those attending as well as our faith communities. May we continue to support our next generation of Catholics and ensure the excellence in education as we depend on our Catholic schools to send the message of salvation to all.

Thank you to those who have so kindly donated toward this goal. It is your generosity and support which continues to sustain our Catholic schools in the Diocese of Winona-Rochester for over 164 years. Catholic Foundation Monica Herman Executive Director Catholic Foundation of Southern Minnesota mherman@catholicfsmn.org