Since 2018, the Crimsonbridge Foundation’s Bridges for Schools program has provided resources and tools for Catholic schools to successfully welcome, enroll, engage, and retain Latino students and their families. In the first five years of the program, Bridges for Schools awarded more than 50 grants of up to $3,000 to 22 schools in the Archdiocese of Washington and the Diocese of Arlington. These focused investments in communications, outreach, and personnel are having an impact! To date, 88% of Bridges for Schools partners have maintained or increased Hispanic enrollment. Schools have also documented increases in parent engagement, which speaks to the benefits of fostering welcoming and inclusive school and parish communities. Each Bridges for Schools grant is tailored to a school’s self-identified needs and goals. When a school isn’t sure of where to start, Crimsonbridge staff partner with school leadership to conduct an informal needs assessment and share what has worked for other schools in the region. Many schools continue to build upon their success and capacity, with 75% of schools applying for a second, third, or fourth year of support!
Crimsonbridge is now accepting applications for Bridges for Schools 2022!. We invite you to take a look at our Bridges for Schools report to learn more about the impact of the program over the past five years:
Bridges for Schools is a key component of the Crimsonbridge Foundation’s Education Imperative program. To learn more about how to apply for Bridges for Schools, connect with Senior Program Officer Caitlin Mayo at cmayo@crimsonbridge.org.