Scholarship Fund for Inner-City Children Gala Raises $470K, Highlights Importance of Supporting Youth

This year’s gala recognized the commitment of three archdiocesan leaders to Catholic education: Auxiliary Bishop Michael A. Saporito, regional vicar of Bergen County; Dr. Eugene J. Cornacchia, president of St. Peter’s University; and Andrew P. Schafer, retired executive director of Catholic Cemeteries. Each honoree delivered stirring speeches commending SFIC for making a difference in thousands of children’s lives. Afterward, Caldwell University President Dr. Jeffrey Senese announced a $250,000 donation to fund scholarships for SFIC students planning to attend his school.

“We are very grateful to all our friends who were able to attend our gala,” said Dr. Michelle L. Hartman, SFIC’s chief executive officer. “Without their support, we could not grant thousands of students the scholarships needed to attend schools within the Archdiocese of Newark. It is the time, talent, and treasure we receive from our supporters that changes the lives of the children within our community.”

The gala was a testament to the real-life impact of SFIC’s work, with many scholarship recipients taking center stage. This included over 100 student ambassadors from Koinonia Academy in Plainfield and St. Nicholas School in Jersey City, who interacted with donors in attendance. A unique art auction featuring pieces created by archdiocesan students was also a resounding success, netting $45,000. And guest speaker Brianna Sampson, a 12th grader at St. Vincent Academy in Newark, shared the deeply personal story of how SFIC’s scholarship money was the lifeline that enabled her to continue receiving a Catholic education when her mother’s breast cancer treatment limited her family’s finances.

“When you donate to the Scholarship Fund for Inner-City Children, you not only provide educational opportunities for young people, you also instill belief in them,” said Sampson, who will begin studying speech-language pathology at William Patterson University this fall. “Knowing that there are generous people who believe in me and want to support me has made all the difference. It is that belief that has kept me focused and driven while facing the most difficult challenges. I will forever be grateful for my donors and the Scholarship Fund for Inner-City Children.”

SFIC has experienced immense growth ever since celebrating its 40^th anniversary last year, with an increased amount of events and outreach leading to a higher number of donations and interest. Most recently, high school students Olivia and Ryan Mount launched a program named “Student 2 Student” that allows youth like them to contribute directly to the fund. For information on SFIC and its scholarships, visit www.sficnj.org. 

About the Scholarship Fund for Inner-City Children

Founded in 1983 as the Fund for Educational Advancement, the Scholarship Fund for Inner-City Children (SFIC) is a non-profit organization that provides children in need with the opportunity for a quality, values-based education in a safe environment. It offers partial-tuition assistance for students from economically disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds attending private and parochial schools within Bergen, Essex, Hudson and Union counties. Scholarships are based on need without regard to religion, gender, race, or ethnic background. To date, SFIC has provided $53.5 million in partial-tuition assistance. Applicant families must be ready to provide proof of income and intend to attend one of the schools within the four counties it serves. For more information, visit www.sficnj.org. 

About the Archdiocese of Newark 

The Archdiocese of Newark serves 1.3 million Catholics throughout Bergen, Essex, Hudson, and Union counties. The Archdiocese has 212 parishes, 73 Catholic schools, and many missions and ministries. Hundreds of Masses are celebrated in more than a dozen languages each week. Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., the sixth archbishop of Newark, leads the Archdiocese with four auxiliary bishops. Together, they serve the northern New Jersey community through faith, education, and social services. For more information, visit www.rcan.org.