Diocesan Catholic schools receive millions in donations

The Diocese of Greensburg is the beneficiary of a surge of monetary and capital donations toward Catholic education at its 12 schools in Armstrong, Indiana, Fayette and Westmoreland counties.

• An anonymous donor has agreed to continue funding of the St. Pope John Paul II Tuition Opportunity Partnership for an additional five years.

• With this donation, alongside new corporate and individual donors, nearly $20 million in tuition assistance is expected to be available to Catholic school students in the Diocese of Greensburg over the next five years.

• Capital project donations were gifted totaling more than $300,000 from Lindy Paving, Golden Triangle Construction and Arch Masonry at many school campuses.

The St. Pope John Paul II Tuition Opportunity Partnership

This groundbreaking scholarship opportunity was announced July 1, 2020, by the Diocese of Greensburg, thanks to an anonymous donor who is committed to fortifying Catholic education in Western Pennsylvania.

In 2020, more than 800 students benefited from the tuition assistance totaling nearly $2.5 million. The available money offsets the cost of Catholic education for nearly 393 students who were new to the Catholic school system, thereby increasing Catholic school enrollment in the Diocese by 13.1%.

The anonymous donor has agreed to extend the TOP Student program for an additional five years, with the help of new donors including Jay W. Cleveland Jr., President and CEO of Cleveland Brothers. More than 100 other businesses and individuals have also committed to the Pennsylvania Educational Income Tax Credit program, bringing the five-year outlook for tuition assistance to approximately $20 million.

The qualifications to becoming a TOP Student include the following:

• Student must demonstrate commitment to and enthusiasm for learning.

• Student/family must be registered members of a faith community.

• Student must demonstrate service to that faith community.

• Parent/guardian must demonstrate some financial commitment toward the cost of education.

This information is also available at CatholicSchoolsGuide.org or by calling 724-552-2565.

Capital Projects and assistance

The Diocese of Greensburg is grateful for the assistance of three local companies which together are donating manpower and resources for $300,000 worth of capital projects over the next year at Catholic schools in the Diocese.

Lindy Paving of New Galilee is undertaking parking lot sealing, restriping and repairs at multiple schools.

Arch Masonry of Pittsburgh is performing masonry, cleaning and repair work at multiple schools. Golden Triangle Construction of Imperial undertook a major construction project at Aquinas Academy, Greensburg, that involved removing and replacing the existing sidewalk and concrete pad in the front of the building.

The Diocese of Greensburg is also grateful to Attorney John Goetz and the law firm Jones Day, Pittsburgh, for pro bono legal services it provided throughout the completion of these donations.

“These are major opportunities for our Catholic schools, each made possible by community-minded individuals who understand the impact that Catholic education can have in a person’s life,” Bishop Larry J. Kulick said. “We are grateful for their commitment to our schools and families through these partnerships.”

“These are true evangelization efforts. These monies help to ensure that more students will be knowledgeable in the faith,” said Dr. Maureen Marsteller, Superintendent of Catholic Schools.

“My hope is that they will be able to share their joy and discovery of the truths of the Catholic faith with others.”