Our story begins with gratitude.

Our parents before us, ourselves, and now our children are Catholic school graduates. The friendships we treasure, the values we live by, and the paths of our lives were profoundly shaped by Catholic education.

Meeting a Growing Need

For generations, Catholic schools have been a cornerstone of faith formation in West Michigan—shaping students with strong academics, moral discipline, and a life rooted in Christ. Yet over the last 25 years, tuition costs have risen far faster than family incomes, leaving many middle-class parents questioning whether Catholic education remains within reach.

The Catholic Promise addresses this challenge directly. By significantly reducing tuition, the program strengthens the long-term viability of Catholic Central High School and ensures that future generations of students can continue to benefit from the rich tradition of Catholic education in Grand Rapids.

The tuition contribution that remains is intentional—it affirms the family’s partnership in their child’s education and preserves the culture of shared sacrifice that has always defined Catholic schools.

Rather than wait for government vouchers or legislative relief, we believe our Church community can act today. The Catholic Promise is not a judgment on public schools, but a pledge to preserve a vital option for families who want an education that interweaves faith with knowledge.

Why It Matters

Rising tuition is not just a financial issue—it is a pastoral concern. When Catholic schooling becomes unaffordable, families may drift from parishes, and children lose daily formation in faith and virtue just as society’s competing voices grow loudest. The Catholic Promise lowers that barrier, helping parents choose an environment that reinforces the values of charity, integrity, discipline, and service—values proclaimed at home and in church.

Stronger enrollment will also stabilize school finances, broaden academic and extracurricular offerings, and strengthen parish life. In this way, the scholarship is not only a gift to individual students, but an investment in the future of Catholic education and the Catholic community in West Michigan.

A Promise for the Future

Our long-term objective is straightforward: when young Catholic couples decide where to plant roots and raise children, they will know that an outstanding, faith-filled high school education is within reach. The Catholic Promise stands as a living pledge that cost need not deter a family from choosing Catholic Central - or, in time, other diocesan schools as the model expands.

We hope that priests, principals, alumni, and fellow donors will join us in stewarding this mission, measuring its impact, and telling its story so that generosity can multiply. Most of all, we pray that each scholarship recipient will grow into an adult who lives the Gospel with conviction and becomes, in turn, a beacon of hope for the next generation.

In establishing the Catholic Promise, we honor the blessings we have received and answer Christ’s call to give back.  May this program serve families, fortify our parishes, and keep the light of Catholic education shining brightly in West Michigan for decades to come.