PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Lisa King, Catholic Community Foundation
Phone: (216) 696-6525 ext. 1042
Email: lking@catholiccommunity.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Angel Scholarship Fund Celebrates Three Years of Transforming Lives Through Catholic Education
Tuition Assistance Awarded to 8,600 Students Across the Diocese of Cleveland
Cleveland, OH – May 1, 2025 — The Angel Scholarship Fund recently concluded its third successful year as an Ohio Scholarship Granting Organization. The Catholic Community Foundation and Diocese of Cleveland are proud to celebrate the extraordinary generosity of Northeast Ohioans and the life-changing impact the program has had on Catholic school students throughout the Diocese of Cleveland.
Launched in 2022, the Angel Scholarship Fund harnesses the power of Ohio’s unique tax credit program, enabling donors to turn their state income tax liability into tuition assistance for students in Catholic elementary and high schools. The fund has experienced remarkable growth culminating in a record-setting $8.1 million in the 2024 tax year, with more than 7,000 households contributing to the fund. Their commitment to Catholic education will make it possible to build on the 8,600 total scholarships awarded to date for direct tuition support.
All K-12 students in the Diocese of Cleveland are eligible for the scholarship, which is awarded based on financial need, with priority given to low-income families. Benefactors help remove financial barriers so more students can access the excellent, faith-based education offered by Catholic schools in the diocese.
“The momentum we’ve seen in just three years is nothing short of inspiring,” said Patrick Grace, executive director of the Catholic Community Foundation. “This is about more than numbers—it’s about opening doors and lifting burdens for thousands of families who desire a Catholic education but need a helping hand to make it happen.”
The fund’s impact is felt across the diocese’s eight counties, with each of its 108 Catholic schools benefitting from Angel Scholarship Fund contributions. Several schools have surpassed major fundraising milestones since the fund’s inception, thanks to an extraordinary level of local support:
- St. Mary School (Chardon) and St. Helen School (Newbury) have each raised over $700,000 (since inception).
- St. Barnabas School (Northfield) has raised over $600,000 (since inception).
- St. Christopher School (Rocky River) and St. Hilary School (Fairlawn) have each raised over $500,000 (since inception).
Donors can choose to support students with the greatest need or designate a specific Catholic school. Donations may be eligible for a dollar-for-dollar Ohio state tax credit—up to $750 per individual or $1,500 per married couple filing jointly—making it a powerful tool for donors and a blessing for families.
The Diocese of Cleveland is home to the largest Catholic school system in Ohio and the sixth-largest in the nation, currently educating nearly 40,000 students. The Angel Scholarship Fund helps ensure Catholic education remains within reach for families of all income levels.
To learn more or make a tax-credit-eligible donation, visit www.catholiccommunity.org/angel or call 216-902-1312.
The Catholic Community Foundation is dedicated to enriching lives by encouraging faithful philanthropy. The Foundation supports the mission of the Diocese of Cleveland to provide for the spiritual, educational, and charitable needs of people throughout Northeast Ohio. Since its inception in 2000, the Foundation raises funds to support Catholic Charities, Catholic education, priestly formation, and other ministries in the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland.
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