Through a unique nonprofit-philanthropic partnership called the Hispanic Education Imperative Fund, 28 students will receive enrollment guidance, academic support, and partial scholarships for the 2024-2025 school year at five schools in the Archdiocese of Washington. Funded by the Crimsonbridge Foundation and administered by the Latino Student Fund, these scholarships are just one part of a comprehensive approach to increase access, enrollment, and Hispanic and Latino family engagement in Catholic schools. Since 2016, the Hispanic Education Imperative Fund has awarded more than $1.1 million in scholarships and supported 115 students.
The Fund is a component of a larger initiative of the Crimsonbridge Foundation called the Education Imperative, which goes beyond access to activate a whole-community approach to help schools incorporate new ways to promote welcoming and inclusive environments for all families. Through this initiative, dioceses and schools receive guidance and support on investing in Spanish language and cultural capacity building, parent engagement, professional development strategies, tuition assistance, and research.
Enlisted as a community partner in this initiative is the Latino Student Fund, a regional nonprofit that administers the Fund, walks with families through the private school application process, and offers students robust academic support and college preparation programs. Participating schools include the Academy of the Holy Cross, Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School, Elizabeth Seton High School, Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School, and Saint Francis International School. Each of these schools has also participated in the Foundation’s Bridges for Schools program, a core component of the Education Imperative that has helped more than 45 schools invest in expanding Spanish communications, parent engagement, bilingual staffing, culturally competent leadership, and more.
“Scholarships play a valued role in access, but don’t foster a sense of belonging, which we know is essential for student, family, and school success.” Crimsonbridge Foundation Senior Program Officer Caitlin Mayo shares. “To achieve this, there is a role for everyone: students, parents, teachers, school leaders, dioceses, Catholic Schools Offices, parishes, and philanthropy.”
Since the program’s inception, 100% of graduating seniors supported through the Fund have gone on to college, matriculating to institutions including American University, Catholic University, Georgetown University, Loyola University Maryland, Marymount University, Trinity Washington University, University of Maryland, Vanderbilt University, and Yale University.