Adrienne Runnebaum is the Director of Tax Credits for the Catholic Education Foundation.
The CEF Office is blessed to receive daily reminders of why our mission matters, from heartfelt thank you cards to spending time with the energetic students at CEF-sponsored Catholic schools. This week, I had a humbling and inspiring experience as a mother and CEF employee. My 5 ½ year old “baby” boy went to his kindergarten screening at our local parish school. The next morning, my little guy joyfully proclaimed, “I can’t wait to go to kindergarten!”
Like any parent, my husband and I want what’s in the best interest of our son; spiritual and moral development, academic preparedness, safety and security in a faith community, and an environment where our child can flourish and develop his God given talents and gifts. As I drove to work the next day, I couldn’t help but think of our amazing CEF families and the sacrifices they make for a Catholic education. They have the very same desires and aspirations for their children. But their financial situation leaves them grappling with how to afford a Catholic education. Our Catholic faith teaches us that “the family is the first school and the parents are the first teachers.” We are also called to serve the vulnerable and those in most need. Thanks to the support of our dedicated donors, CEF is able to provide this critical resource to families, empowering them to choose a Catholic education.
Far too often, a family’s zip code or lack of financial resources creates a barrier for them to access the educational setting that they know is best for their child. Scholarship programs, such as CEF, help open the doors of opportunity to more families in need. Since 1997, CEF has awarded over 13,000 scholarships. There are also formal legislative programs that provide scholarship resources through School Choice initiatives. A parent should have the right to choose the best education for their child, whether that’s public, private, homeschool, online, or some other educational setting. In January 2015, CEF became an active Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO) in Kansas’ School Choice program, the Kansas Tax Credit for Low-Income Students Scholarship Program (this scholarship initiative is separate from CEF’s Traditional Scholarship Program). Because of the generosity of our eligible donors, we’ve been able to provide over 200 Tax Credit Scholarships to eligible students this school year.
A principal once told me she wished CEF and its donors could be in the room when she informs a family of their scholarship. It is such a joyful moment and many times, there are tears of happiness. I’m sure I will shed a few tears (or a lot) as I walk my son into his kindergarten classroom come this August. I pray that we will continue to bring tears of joy to current and future CEF families who are committed to choosing a faith-based, quality Catholic education.
You can help us make a difference! Please visit us at www.cefks.org to learn more about the mission of CEF.
