Schools and Supporters Alike Believe Kids Deserve the Best

During our second annual “Check Delivery Marathon,” Aim Higher Foundation board members, team members, supporters and friends had the privilege of shaking hands with school leaders and students at many of the schools we serve. The day of the Marathon, 30 volunteers helped us reach 41 schools.  With some additional staff visits the next three days, we were able to connect with 54 of the 81 schools we serve in the first full week of March.  On the heels of this special event in which we delivered the final half of the more than $2.3 million provided in scholarship support for students this school year, we left inspired. The warmth and enthusiasm with which we were welcomed touched our hearts. The positive impression made by the quality of leadership, the articulation of the educational experience, and the character and manners of the students we met reinforced our commitment to our mission.

Ricky Austin is the President of the Aim Higher Foundation

One of our participants captured our shared sentiment well:

"You sense something there – this combination of love, attention, faith, and excellence permeates these buildings. It's good people doing incredible work for the next generation, simply because they believe these kids deserve the best we have to offer."

Catholic schools are doing something extraordinary in the Twin Cities. We see it day in and day out at the Aim Higher Foundation and we can proudly proclaim those certainties every day in what we do.

The context in which we see these many transformational benefits of a Catholic education matters, though. And that context is worrying. The Twin Cities holds the unfortunate distinction as the city with the largest educational achievement gap in the country. You (and me, both) might be exhausted from hearing all the “post-pandemic” analysis, but the pandemic broke an education system already struggling to meet the needs of its students, particularly for those children from low-income and working-class families.

That’s all to say this: children from disadvantaged backgrounds need what Catholic schools have to offer. They need the love, attention, faith, and excellence permeating the halls of a Catholic school. And you know what? The schools we serve have many empty seats to serve those students!

It’s fortunate, then, that the second half of our participant’s testimony rings so true. We are so grateful for the supporters who get behind our work “simply because they believe these kids deserve the best we have to offer.”

And therein lies a key ingredient to the Aim Higher Foundation’s—and even our community’s—future. The number of those in this community who believe kids deserve the best we have to offer is so much bigger than the number of those who currently support our mission directly. I’ve yet to come across someone who has told me they don’t believe that every child should have access to the best education options available. If that holds true, the future of the education system and the future of the quality of education today’s children receive should be very bright. We have plenty more potential backers of our cause!

Here at the Aim Higher Foundation, we firmly believe that each scholarship we distribute represents not just financial aid, but a key to unlocking the potential of a child's future, a family's hope, and a promise to a future generation. Together, we can continue to make a difference in the lives of countless children and families, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential.

And, by the way, we welcome you to join us for our next “Check Delivery Marathon.” Come see it for yourselves!