Supporters of Catholic education in Canada are well aware that public funding for Catholic schools differs from coast to coast. Our Toonies for Tuition initiative gives us the opportunity to celebrate the body of Christ at work as donations to this fundraiser give families throughout Canada the opportunity to experience the gift of Catholic education in partially or non-funded provinces.
To honour the exemplary fundraising efforts every year, we award two trophies. One trophy is given to the individual school board or division in the fully-funded provinces that raise the most money per capita based on FTE enrolment and a second to the province that raises the most money based on provincial FTE enrolment.
2020-2021 Toonies for Tuition Trophy Winners
At this year’s Annual General Meeting, President Paula Scott proudly congratulated the recipients of the 2020-2021 Toonies for Tuition Trophy:
- School Board/Division Trophy: Hamilton Wentworth Catholic District School Board (ON)
- Provincial Trophy: Ontario
Patrick Daly, Trustee from Hamilton Wentworth Catholic District School Board and newly-elected CCSTA President, is a true champion and advocate of the Toonies for Tuition program. He remarked, “I support Toonies For Tuition because the campaign provides hope to children and families. With the support of the funds raised, parents are able to send their children to a school that supports the Christ-centred virtues they teach in these homes.” The Hamilton Wentworth donation was made in memory of CCSTA Past President Marino Gazzola’s daughter, Jenna Gazzola.
Honourable mentions were given to:
- St. Thomas Aquinas RCSRD No. 38 (AB)
- Prince Albert RCSSD No. 6 (SK)
- Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario (ON)
- Bishop Ryan Foundation (ON)
How are donated funds distributed throughout Canada?
The CCSTA Endowment Fund Committee meets annually to review requests for tuition assistance and to allocate money to schools. Many thanks to this year’s committee members for reviewing all of the requests and allocating funds.
| Province | Provincial Funding | Number of schools requesting funds | Number of students requesting funds | Amount requested | Amount allocated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Columbia | Approximately 50% public funding | 14 | 92 | $208,010 | $41,400 |
| Manitoba | Approximately 50% public funding | 5 | 35 | $29,889 | $6,500 |
| New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia | No public funding | 5 | 33 | $103,350 | $25,800 |
Totals
- Number of schools requesting funds – 24
- Number of students requesting funds – 160
- Amount requested – $341,249
- Amount allocated – $73,700
Keep Catholic education alive in Canada
Every year requests for tuition assistance exceed the amount of money that is available.
Unfortunately, like many charities, Toonies for Tuition donations were down 27% this year due to
COVID-19. We received $341,249 in requests for assistance and had $73,700 available for distribution. Toonies for Tuition provides a vital lifeline to keep Catholic education alive in provinces with limited to no public funding.
Consider making a one-time or recurring donation to Toonies for Tuition this month to give the gift of Catholic education to a family in need.
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