Your Support Matters – For Faith and Thousands More

Aim Higher President, Ricky Austin thanks Faith Ramirez and Saint Helena Catholic School Principal, Karla Gergen, for sharing Faith’s inspiring story at this year’s Night of Light Celebration. View the video.

At the Aim Higher Foundation, we believe every child deserves access to the many advantages of Catholic schools—character-building instruction, high expectations, faith-filled curriculum, and academic rigor. For students like Faith Ramirez, these advantages can be transformative.

In 2022, seeking an environment that could meet her needs, Faith’s parents turned
to Saint Helena Catholic School for her second-grade year. Two grade levels behind in reading and fearful of the classroom, Faith had struggled academically and emotionally at her previous school. “Faith didn’t feel cared for,” recalls Principal Karla Gergen.

“As a Catholic school, we are able to meet the needs of students in ways other options are not,” Ms. Gergen continued. “We have small group intervention and small class sizes. We have relationships with the families, as well as the independence and flexibility to make the decisions that we know are right – for the kids.”

After two years at Saint Helena, with the help of an Aim Higher Scholarship to pay for tuition, Faith is thriving.

“The Faith who came to Saint Helena in second
grade and the Faith today, two years later,
are two totally different people.”
Mrs. Irene Rameriz, Faith’s mother

“If it was not for scholarships, we would not be able to afford Saint Helena Catholic School,”acknowledges Faith’s mother. This stark financial reality was underscored when Faith’s father fell critically ill this past June, and the family faced a future of one income and looming medical bills. “The last thing Faith’s parents need to worry about right now as they are dealing with this health crisis is her education,” remarks Ms. Gergen. “Because of the Aim Higher Foundation, they don’t have to.”

As you consider your year-end giving, we invite you to make a donation to the Aim Higher Foundation. A gift to support our tuition-assistance scholarships ensures even more children—more students like Faith—can attend and experience the benefits of a Catholic school.