Progress continues toward Msgr. Lafferty Fund's goal

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
Nov. 15, 2007

With one year under their belts, many development directors at Catholic schools in the diocese and others who are helping in the effort to raise money for the Msgr. Lafferty Tuition Foundation are finding it to be a relatively easy sale.

As of Nov. 14, more than $700,000 has been raised of the $1.3 million. Through scholarship tuition foundations, Iowa residents who have an Iowa tax liability can receive a 65 percent tax credit on their donations to the Msgr. Lafferty Tuition Foundation.

Each school is allowed to raise a designated amount of money based on their school enrollment. Money designated to a particular school will therefore be used for tuition assistance in that school as long as they have students who meet specified tuition assistance guidelines - 300 percent of poverty.

Betty Ann Schmitz, development director at Sacred Heart School in Boone, said her school has reached its goal.

"We have some of the most generous and incredible people in Boone," she said. "They all want to help our families."

Even after the Catholic school in Boone reached its designated level, Schmitz said people were willing to make contributions because they knew it was helping others.

"Everyone who has participated has recognized that it is a win-win situation," she said. "We have probably doubled the number of donors this year. The word got out that it is a good deal and we can help our families. Helping the families was first and the tax credits are a bonus."

John Steffes, director of the Kuemper Catholic School Foundation in Carroll, pointed out that Kuemper Catholic Schools has raised more than 95 percent of their goal.

He agreed that the combination of fantastic tax advantages with support of the Catholic schools make donations to this foundation very appealing.

While the scholarship tuition foundations were implemented in the state last year, this year an amendment to the Educational Opportunities Act enabled donors to give in more ways. In the Diocese of Sioux City, it means that the Msgr. Lafferty Foundation is accepting gifts of stock.

"We had at least two donors who contributed stock," noted Steffes.

Kuemper Catholic, he noted, has seen the benefit of this program.

"We have had more tuition assistance available. More families apply for tuition assistance and more families have been impacted," said Steffes. "It's making Catholic education more affordable. We never want to see our Catholic schools be only for the wealthy."

He said as the value of the program spreads, he anticipates many repeat donors next year.

Ron Olberding, principal at Sacred Heart School in Spencer and Pocahontas Catholic, pointed out that both schools have reached their designated dollars.

"It's pretty exciting that both schools have reached their goals," he said. "A lot of the people are repeats from last year and they see the value in the program - the benefit to the kids and a good tax credit and deduction as well."

The availability of the tuition assistance, noted Olberding, has had a positive impact on the school enrollment.

"I know we got some new students because of the ability for them to apply for Lafferty money. In Spencer, our enrollment is up 16 students," he said.

Olberding mentioned that with the diocese being able to raise $2 million next year through the foundation, he is hopeful even more donors will come through.

"It's a great program," he said.

Schools will have until Dec. 1 to reach their designations and after that other schools will be able to raise more money.