Transform Barriers into Bright Futures

By: Ricky Austin

One of the great privileges of my work is seeing, up close, the quiet moments when a child realizes the future that’s possible for their life. It happens in classrooms, in hallways, in conversations with teachers who know them well. After years working for Catholic schools, I’ve learned that these moments aren’t accidents. They’re the product of intentional communities rooted in faith and committed to nurturing both the mind and the heart.

Ricky Austin is the president of the Aim Higher Foundation

At their best, Catholic schools offer a full vision of human flourishing — rigorous academics, character formation, community, and faith. Children walk in as a student, and through care, challenge, and belonging, they grow into confident young people ready to lead and, most importantly, to serve others.

But even as the need and impact of the power of a Catholic education becomes clearer each year, the reality remains: many families simply cannot afford the nearly $6,000 average tuition that makes this opportunity possible. That is where the Aim Higher Foundation steps in.

Our scholarships aren’t just financial assistance. They are bridges — opening the door to high-quality Catholic education and transforming financial barriers into pathways toward possibility.

Emily Cendejas-Garcia, who spoke at this year’s Night of Light, illustrates the power of that bridge. Her parents worked multiple jobs to support their four children, but tuition remained out of reach. A multi-year Aim Higher Scholarship changed the trajectory. Emily excelled academically, found a community that believed in her, became the first in her family to graduate from college, and now works as a project engineer at Ryan Companies — a Latina woman leading in a field where representation matters. As she shared:

“The Aim Higher Scholarship opened the door for me. It gave me the chance to find my purpose — and now, to use that purpose every day.”

This year, nearly 3,000 children are learning and thriving in the 80 Catholic schools we serve. Yet thousands more are still waiting for the same chance.

As we enter the year-end giving season, I’m asking you to help us light the path forward for them. This isn’t rhetoric — it’s the invitation to make something real happen for a child. With your support, a child will step into a Catholic school next fall with hope, confidence, and a clearer path toward a bright future. With your gift, a family will experience the kind of stability and opportunity they’ve prayed for.

Thank you for your partnership, your generosity, and your belief in the profound good of Catholic schools.

In service,