By Amy Hone
Hope for the Future Director
In 2007, Archbishop José H. Gomez enlisted Rosemary Kowalski and other community leaders in establishing Hope for the Future as a resource for donors to assist eligible families with tuition within the Archdiocese of San Antonio.
This year, Hope for the Future begins our second decade of service. We are proud to state that with the generosity of supporters, we have awarded more than $20 million in tuition assistance to more than 16,000 students pursuing their dream of a Catholic school education.
Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller, MSpS, has been a staunch supporter of Hope for the Future’s mission, stating: “Catholic education is central to the Catholic church. Catholic schools exist to light the passion for learning in children, but even more importantly, to fan the fire of faith in their hearts. While academic excellence establishes a positive foundation, encountering Christ and applying the faith to all aspects of life are lessons that will endure in our children.”
While our primary mission is to provide need-based tuition assistance, Hope for the Future has grown in scope, working diligently to also obtain grants in support of technology and other curriculum enhancements for our schools. Hope for the Future was awarded $358,743 from PreK4SA for the 2016 — 2017 school year, and was given the opportunity to renew the grant for the 2017-2018 school year.
This PreK-4 grant increased the quality of our PreK-4 programs with enhanced learning opportunities, exciting new curriculum, and professional development for PreK-4 teachers and assistants.
Grants from other generous donors have resulted in new books, computers and technology to keep our students on the cutting edge. Through the generosity of the Miss Tristan Foundation, Hope for the Future has also joined with Colin’s Hope to bring water-safety training programs to 10 San Antonio Archdiocese Schools. We are the only school district in San Antonio to provide Water Safety curriculum for PreK-4 children. This initiative began in August and will continue throughout the school year.
During Catholic Schools week, we hope that you take the opportunity to visit an Open House, celebrate mass, or attend a performance or one of the many events taking place at one of our schools. This year Catholic Schools week closes with a grand finale: our Khaki & Plaid Gala — The Royal Ball on Saturday, Feb. 3rd.
Actors Tony Plana and Ada Maris are our honorary chairs this year, with Diana Barrios Trevino and Roland Trevino as executive chairs. We expect The Royal Ball to be a spectacular event. Khaki & Plaid is our primary annual fundraiser, and we are hoping to raise a record-breaking $1 million to continue to provide financial assistance to families who need a little help, who need a little Hope to reach their dreams.
We are so grateful for the support the San Antonio community gives Hope for the Future. On behalf of the archdiocese, thank you to all of our sponsors, supporters, board and committee members.
For more information, call (210) 734-1963 or visit Hopeforfuture.org
