Support
Community Giving
St. Louis Catholic High School is a catholic, not-for-profit school with deep traditions and legacies. Students, staff, alumni, parents, prospective students and Catholics across Southwest Louisiana make up our community of Saints. It is with the support of this community that St. Louis Catholic High School thrives.
Although St. Louis Catholic students and their families pay tuition, we fundraise to ensure that our school may remain accessible to as many families as possible; that our teachers and staff may be competitively compensated; that our facilities are safe and high-quality; and that our students may access the technology and other resources they need for their academic success.
We hope you’ll join in supporting our Saints’ community of faith, in which we strive to create a culture of philanthropy among our students, parents, staff, alumni and their families.
For more information on Community Giving, please contact Rob Acord, Director of Advancement at racord@slchs.org.
St. Louis Catholic Foundation
The St. Louis Catholic Foundation is a standalone not-for-profit organization that exists to support the needs of St. Louis Catholic High School and the St. Louis Catholic community of Saints. Established in 1983 for the sole purpose of providing financial assistance to St. Louis Catholic High School, the foundation, currently oversees endowed scholarships, planned giving opportunities, memorial donations and more. Governed by its own board of directors, the St. Louis Catholic Foundation annually distributes half of its earned income to the school and reinvests the other half – meaning every gift to the Foundation is perpetual.
Since its inception, the St. Louis Catholic Foundation has contributed more than $3 million to support the school. In recent years, foundation funds have invested in the following for St. Louis Catholic High School: 21 endowed scholarships and much more!
Endow a Scholarship
St. Louis Catholic High School has 19 endowed scholarships available to qualified students. These scholarships enable us to welcome into our faith community deserving students who may not otherwise be able to attend our school.
Endowed scholarships are sponsored through a one-time donation, with tuition for recipients derived from the interest on the initial sum in subsequent years in accordance with the Foundation’s reinvestment strategy. Donors may name the scholarship or remain anonymous and may outline the criteria for recipients, as long as it is consistent with our Catholic principles. Criteria may, for example, include academic accomplishments or financial need.
Scholarships are currently available at St. Louis Catholic High School in memory or honor of:
- 25th Anniversary Scholarship
- Adam Puckett
- Alton & Gisele Puckett
- Alverdy Heyd Veron
- Beatina & Thomas K. O’Carroll
- Deacon Glenn Viau
- Douglas Earl Veron
- Elizabeth & Jacque de la Bretonne
- ERDACE Family
- Ethel & Henry “Doc” Mancuso
- Geri Christ & Lester M. Landry
- Gertrude Joffrion Winter
- Glendon L. Smith
- Gloria & George J. John
- Juanita Hebert & A.M. Stelly
- Judge Earl E. Veron
- Mike & Dee Halay
- Pam Gabriel LeBlanc
- Patricia Petty Engel
- Phillip E. Ribbeck
- Vida & Robert Pumpelly
For more information on endowing a scholarship, contact stlouiscatholicfoundation@gmail.com.
Planned Giving Opportunities
Planned giving, or gift planning, is a form of long-term charitable giving that allows individual donors to make larger gifts over a period of time. Donors considering planned giving typically employ estate and tax planning strategies to maximize their gifts and minimize impacts to their estates. Planned giving may come in the form of fixed donations over several years or asset donations as part of a last will and testament, among other strategies. As with any gift to the St. Louis Catholic Foundation, a planned gift, once it is received, becomes part of the Foundation’s investments and benefits the school in perpetuity.
Planned gifts do not have to be cash, although cash gifts are welcome – either outright or as a pledge. Substantial cash gifts are also eligible for permanently named endowments.
Other types of gifts may include:
Appreciated Assets
This includes stocks, bonds, mutual funds and real estate. Gifting an appreciated asset may have significant tax benefits.
Wills
Simply include St. Louis Catholic in your final will and testament to ensure your gift is made from your final estate.
Life Insurance
Some families find they need less than an insurance policy pays. Much like dedicating funds in a will, excess life insurance funds may also be donated.
Retirements Funds
Gifting retirement funds from IRAs or 401ks is a popular strategy to benefit a nonprofit and reduce taxes owed while not significantly impacting the amount left to heirs.
Charitable Trusts
A charitable trust is a structure that may provide additional income to you during life and that could ensure your family receives more of your estate after taxes are paid.
Planned gift donors are honored in our annual report upon planning a gift of any amount, or they may remain anonymous. For more information on planned giving, contact stlouiscatholicfoundation@gmail.com.
Ready to give? Online giving is available for endowed scholarships and memorial donations.
Donations may also be mailed to:
St. Louis Foundation
P.O. Box 24
Lake Charles, La 70602
Get Involved
Advisory Council: The St. Louis Catholic High School Advisory Council is a representative group of no fewer than five and no more than 11 individuals who provide guidance and recommendations to the school principal and rector in the following areas:
- Operating and capital budgets
- Strategic planning, including Catholic identity/spiritual life, enrollment/marketing academics, student life, facilities, finance, advancement and community relations
- Programs (extracurricular, financial and otherwise) that guide school management
- The effectiveness of the school’s promotion of Catholic teaching and education
- School operations
- Policy implementation
- Maintenance and improvement of the school’s facilities
- Coordination with the Office of Catholic Schools regarding St. Louis Catholic operations
Advisory Council members, except ex-officio members, are elected by the active members of the school at an annual meeting. Members of the Catholic faith must be practicing members of the church, as defined by Canon Law and the Catechism of the Catholic Church. No more than two council members may be non-Catholic.
Finance Committee: The St. Louis Catholic High School finance committee provides financial oversight for capital investments, tuition levels, budgeting, fundraising, long-term planning and more. It is made up of community members who commit to set year terms.
The Saints Fund Leadership Committee: The Saints Fund Leadership Committee is made up of St. Louis Catholic parents, students, staff and alumni, along with community members invested in the ongoing success of St. Louis Catholic High School.
The committee oversees the school’s primary annual appeal – The Saints Fund – through organizing activities like the annual letter, phone-a-thon and more.
