Cleveland, Ohio – February 3, 2017 - The Catholic Community Foundation has made a distribution in the amount of $1,162,637 to the Office of Catechetical Formation and Education to provide assistance to a total of 74 Catholic schools and parish catechetical programs in the Diocese of Cleveland. Grants were awarded to help fund sacramental preparation programs, technology, capital improvements and school curriculum, including STEM programs, robotics engineering, entrepreneurship programs, visual and performing arts and theology programs.
The distribution was funded through the generosity of all parishes in the diocese – pastors, parochial vicars, volunteers and parishioners – through the historic Rooted in Faith – Forward in Hope fundraising campaign, which has distributed $110 million in support of campaign case components that benefit diocesan and parish ministries in the eight counties of the Diocese of Cleveland (Ashland, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Summit and Wayne).
The grants will be distributed to school prinicpals, parish catechetical leaders and pastors at a Catholic Schools Week post-celebration, which has been rescheduled due to weather, and will now take place on Monday, February 6 at the Academy of St. Adalbert in Berea. At the event, Christopher Knight, diocesan superintendent of Catholic schools, will announce a bold new initiative to educate students who are exceptional learners at Catholic schools. “Better Together” is a plan to acquire key resources to develop or enhance inclusion programs at an initial cohort of 40 Catholic schools in Northeast Ohio.
“Currently, many of our community’s Catholic schools lack the resources necessary to educate students who are exceptional learners. Including these students in our Catholic schools has far-reaching and impactful benefits, allowing all students to thrive and grow together,” says Knight.
Funding for the Better Together initiative will begin with the Alleluia Ball, the Catholic Community Foundation’s signature gala event, to be held on Saturday, October 14 at the Cleveland Convention Center. Jay and Lanee Lucarelli will serve as chairs for the ball. Since year 2000, proceeds from Alleluia Ball have totaled more than $6 million to support Catholic education.