About Anchor of Hope

Our Purpose
* Provide signicant, need-based financial assistance to students attending Catholic schools without regard to their race, ethnicity, gender, or religious affiliation.
* Cultivate the intellect, self-confidence, and faith of students who could not otherwise afford a Catholic elementary or secondary school education.
* Support families and their children in building stronger communities and a society with a hope-filled future.

Excellence

Not only have Catholic schools been an important means of promoting faith, but they also have consistently formed successful students through academic excellence, discipline, and values.

In fact, the majority of Catholic school graduates continue on to college, with many becoming leaders in business, public service, and education. The Catholic schools of Rhode Island carry on a tradition of cultivating citizens committed to the building up of families and society.

Challenge

Because of unavoidable increases in operating expenses, every year more families seek assistance from our Catholic schools in meeting rising tuition costs.

The reality is that a majority of these schools are in Rhode Island's urban areas. Many of the children they educate are those most at-risk due to challenging socio-economic factors. Our Catholic schools are crucial to the success of these students whose experience shows thrive academically and socially in a Catholic school environment.

Impact

In 2001 the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence established the Anchor of Hope Fund to provide significant, need-based financial assistance to students attending Rhode Island Catholic schools without regard to their race, ethnicity, gender, or religious affiliation.

Through its annual campaign, the Anchor of Hope Fund has seen increased contributions each year from generous individuals, foundations, and corporations.

With our support, it is clear that not only will deserving students benefit, but so will we.

RI Catholic Schools at a Glance

• Secondary school students who graduate - 99.5%
• Graduates who continue onto college - 98%
• Students enrolled in RI Catholic schools - 15,870
• Number of elementary schools - 44
• Average tuition (2007-2008) - $3,900
• Number of secondary schools - 8
• Average tuition (2007-2008) - $9,300
• Applications for tuition assistance in 2007 - 5,200+

Anchor of Hope Fund Support

• Anchor of Hope Fund scholarships - $1,800 for elementary and $3,500 for secondary are given to those students most in need.
• To date, the Anchor of Hope Fund has distributed $1,176,000 in need-based tuition aid to 578 students in Rhode Island Catholic schools.
• Applications are made in January for hte next school year.