Lighting the Path Forward

Every scholarship the Aim Higher Foundation awards shines a light that reaches far beyond one student. It brightens opportunity for families, schools, and communities, creating ripples of hope that last for generations. 

Your generosity makes this possible. It opens classroom doors, lights the way for children to discover their gifts, and helps them see their potential.

In the current school year, nearly 3,000 Aim Higher Scholars are learning and growing in the 80 Catholic schools we serve across the Twin Cities. Yet thousands more children are still waiting for the chance to begin their journey.

When you give to the Aim Higher Foundation, you help light the path for more children, turning hope into opportunity, and opportunity into lives illuminated by a higher calling and a higher purpose.

At the Aim Higher Foundation, we believe all children deserve the opportunity to experience the life-changing benefits found uniquely in Catholic schools; places where rigorous academics, faith, and community come together to help each child reach their God-given potential.

This fall, we celebrated the remarkable impact a Catholic education can have on the life of a child with nearly 750 guests at our annual Night of Light Celebration. Among the most moving moments of the evening was hearing from Emily Cendejas-Garcia, one of our Aim Higher Scholar alumni.

Emily’s parents worked multiple jobs to provide for their four growing children, but even with their extraordinary sacrifices, tuition at a Catholic school seemed out of reach. A multi-year Aim Higher Scholarship changed that.

With the support of the Aim Higher donors, the doors of a Catholic School were opened, and Emily found not only the tools to succeed academically, but also a faith-filled community that helped her discover her own potential and purpose. As she shared from the stage: “to make a difference in the world and leave it better than I found it.”

Years later, Emily became the first in her family to graduate from college, earning a degree from the University of Minnesota. Today, she works as a project engineer at Ryan Companies, proud to be a Latina woman in a field where her presence matters.

“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.”

Emily’s story—like those of thousands of Aim Higher Scholars past and present—began with the generosity of people like you. This year alone, nearly 3,000 children are learning, thriving, and believing in their own potential because of Aim Higher scholarships funded by you, our donors. Yet, thousands more children still wait for that same life-transforming opportunity.

As you consider your year-end giving, we invite you to make a donation to the Aim Higher Foundation. Your generosity opens the door for future students like Emily—helping children discover their purpose, unlock their potential, and bring hope to a world that needs it.