April 28, 2010

Seeds of Hope: equipping students with education, faith to succeed

By John Gleason

What exactly does having a Catholic education mean?  For some children, it can mean building blocks to success they might not otherwise have access to; stability and an environment not only in which to learn, but to learn to live in the image of Christ.

Each year, hundreds of students attend Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Denver as the direct result of the tireless work and support of Seeds of Hope Charitable Trust.  Because of this effort, many students have a hopeful outlook on their future, according to Betsy Boudreau, Seeds of Hope executive director.

“Here’s a chance for the students to be able to attend a school that is safe,” she told the Denver Catholic Register.  “That’s extremely important when you consider many of our students come from homes where both mom and dad work more than one job and family situations where big sister is raising little brother.  To go to school, in a safe environment, and receive an education makes all the difference in the world; the difference between success and failure.”

One such student who’s been given this opportunity is 10-year-old Viviana De La Torre, a fifth-grader at St. Francis de Sales School in Denver.  Five years ago during a family vacation, her father and brother were killed in an automobile crash.  Viviana’s mother, Graciela De La Rosa told the Register that, in addition to support she received from her family, attending a Catholic school helped Viviana deal with the trauma of losing part of her family.

“It was a very bad experience for her,” De la Rosa said of her daughter, “but the people at St. Francis helped her through this time.  The teachers, the friends she made; all helped make her into the student she is today.”
At the recent Hope Springs Eternal luncheon sponsored by Seeds of Hope, young Viviana spoke to a crowd about attending a Catholic school and what it has done for her.

“Education is my way to a better future,” she told the group, adding with a smile:  “I have a loving principal and good but demanding teachers.  I may be too young to understand money and what it costs to go to school, but I understand study and friends and teachers.  I must do my best because there are many kids who don’t have what I do.”

Boudreau thought it poignant that Viviana would smile when talking about how her teachers demanded the best of her.

“I think the values principals and teachers give students are a foundation they use on which to build success,” she said.  “Catholic schools build self-esteem and self-confidence; children feel that they’re important, are a vital part of the class and have something to offer. That’s what makes all the difference in the world.”

Since it’s inception in 1996, the mission of Seeds of Hope Charitable Trust has made the benefits of a Catholic education available to children living in economically disadvantaged areas of Denver through tuition assistance grants, operating support and grants for programs and technology.  In 14 years the organization has awarded more than $19 million in financial assistance benefitting more than 12,000 students.  

The rollercoaster ride the economy has been on lately has made it a challenge for Seeds of Hope, but according to board chairman Bob Lemming, the work continues.

“We’ve had a rough year as many organizations in the nonprofit world have been experiencing,” he said, “but we’ve met our commitments.”

Boudreau agreed.
“Our challenge translated into a tough time for our students and families,” she said.  “Having said that, we anticipate funding 40 percent more students this year, which means we’re going in the right direction.  We’re determined to keep that upward spiral.”