As a global pandemic shuttered school buildings and sent students home, Catholic schools asked for help.
Fulcrum donors answered.
Helping from a distance.
In April 2020, the Fulcrum Foundation Board of Trustees approved the COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund, seeding the new fund with $1 million for schools in need. Fulcrum supporters immediately lent their support to the program, raising over $3.5 million—including $2 million from the Norcliffe Foundation—in just four months.
By July 2020, archdiocesan schools were applying for COVID-19 grants to prepare for the 2020/21 school year. From August 2020-April 2021, Fulcrum disbursed $4,638,000 to 63 schools, allowing them to purchase new technology for remote and hybrid learning, salaries for additional teachers and staff to maintain social distancing requirements, cleaning supplies and PPE for health and safety, and increase tuition assistance support for families in need.
The additional tuition assistance allowed many students to remain in their Catholic schools throughout the school year, giving them access to in-person, online, and hybrid learning opportunities. Archdiocesan schools remained open throughout the pandemic—never missing a day of instruction—and lived their calling to provide an excellent, faith-filled education.
In fact, many Fulcrum-supported schools have experienced a spike in enrollment interest for the 2021/22 school year, thanks to the tireless efforts of administrators, educators, and staff.
“Where would we be without Fulcrum? Fewer students and fewer families would have access to a faith-filled Catholic education—especially during the pandemic,” said Kristin Dixon, the superintendent for Catholic schools. “The Fulcrum Foundation provided much-needed support to help us weather this storm! I believe the Holy Spirit ‘stirred the pot’ during the pandemic to inspire all our leaders to think and act more creatively and in solidarity with one another. With a can-do attitude, Fulcrum’s relief aid allowed us to navigate the regulations that required creativity to face questions never before asked, and work in solidarity with one another for answers.”
Thank you, Fulcrum donors, for making an impossible school year possible!
This article is from the Fulcrum Foundation 2021 Community Report.