Consistency is Key

The Aim Higher Scholar Family series is an invitation for supporters and friends to meet some of the families who benefit from our renewable, need-based scholarships. We are deeply grateful to these families for sharing their stories.

The Kane Family: Nativity of Our Lord

Billie and Allison Kane, who grew up going to Catholic school themselves, are devoted to raising their 5 children with faith at the center. So, when it came time to choose the right school, Nativity of Our Lord stood out as an extension of the Kane home. Speaking on behalf of the couple, Billie notes, “All the values and prayers that we have at home, it’s just nice that it gets to be continued at school and not set aside eight hours a day.”

The impact of Catholic education often elicits a ripple effect. Billie explains, “The fun thing is, a faith-based education piques a lot of curiosity and questions. Nativity provides conversation starters to further the education of why we believe what we believe and how we incorporate it into our lives.” As a father, he admires how this impacts his family culture at home. “I can be there to answer the question or there are times where I don’t know the answers, so then we explore it together. Then we’re both growing our faith and extending our knowledge of the Bible together.”

Billie appreciates this opportunity for his kids, largely due to his having to transfer out of Catholic school when his own family was unable to make it work. With the support of Aim Higher Scholarships, the family doesn’t have to compromise their faith for financial reasons. Instead, the Kane family is able to live an integrated and balanced life. “It relieves the pressure of our responsibility to their faith because it’s a constant at school and at home. So they aren’t starting from scratch once they get home from school; it’s a continuation.”

Hardworking parents from modest means, Billie and Allison are grateful for the Aim Higher Foundation’s support because of the choice it gives them in family decisions. Billie expounds, “With three kids now attending Nativity, I was concerned about our finances and how we would make it work. The Aim Higher Scholarship gave us hope and freedom to live the way that we wanted to live. We get to make decisions because it’s what’s best for the family and now we have those choices.”

Billie sees the privilege of Catholic education as something to be cherished. Eliza (2nd Grade), their oldest, recently received her first reconciliation and first communion. Seeing firsthand the joy and belonging she received from taking part in the sacraments alongside her classmates meant the world to her parents. “Our faith gets to be on full display and it’s a very proud moment as a parent to see your kids be excited about that.”