The Dean and Barbara White Family Foundation, a non-profit, private foundation, has announced it is donating $150 million to Big Shoulders Fund over the next 10 years. The funds will be invested in initiatives that aim to improve the quality, accessibility, and sustainability of Catholic schools in the Diocese of Gary. This is the largest single investment in PreK-12 Catholic education in history, signifying strong support and belief in the efficacy and impact of Indiana educational support systems, like the Indiana Choice Scholarship.
The Diocese of Gary also announced that it will establish an independent endowment within The Catholic Foundation for Northwest Indiana, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, independent corporation by the end of the 2024 calendar year. This commitment of the Diocese of Gary is in addition to and distinct from the donation of the Dean and Barbara White Family Foundation. The goal is for the invested endowment funds to grow exponentially up to $50 million over the next 15 years and be used to supplement the compensation of principals, teachers, and staff within the Diocese of Gary Catholic schools.
Why the Diocese of Gary? Click here to learn more.
FAQs
- Who is making this donation?
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The Dean and Barbara White Family Foundation has donated $150 million to Big Shoulders Fund to invest in Diocese of Gary Catholic Schools.
- What is the relationship between the Diocese of Gary and the Big Shoulders Fund?
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In 2019, the Dean and Barbara White Family Foundation initiated a partnership between the Diocese of Gary and Big Shoulders Fund to increase resources and support in the schools in areas such as scholarships and enrichment, operational improvements, academic programs, volunteerism, and leadership development.
This partnership has successfully coordinated community events, delivered meals to kids and families in The Region, contributed to increased enrollment numbers across the network, built first-time playgrounds at schools, and increased access to high-quality education options for countless families across Northwest Indiana.
- How will the funds be used?
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Big Shoulders Fund and the Catholic Diocese of Gary will build on their existing relationship to use the funds to create a high-quality, data-driven, outcome-focused network of schools that prioritize the educational needs of all students within the Diocese of Gary.
Beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, the funds will be utilized to reimagine a network of Catholic schools that will serve to elevate all Diocese of Gary Catholic schools into an impactful network employing best practices inclusive of all children.
Big Shoulders Fund will lead the strategy and distribution of funds in partnership with the Diocese of Gary. The ultimate goal is to shape a network of schools that prioritizes the educational needs of all students within the Region in order to enhance college and career outcomes.
This is a transformative investment that will open many doors, allowing for curriculum development, advanced professional development, infrastructure improvements, and valuable support services for all students.
- Who will be impacted by this donation?
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The investment is exclusively for the purpose and use of Big Shoulders Fund in the Diocese of Gary network of Catholic schools. The investment will be utilized to provide accessible, transformative PreK-12 education across at least 20 schools spanning four counties in Northwest Indiana.
The investment will focus primarily on serving students and communities with the greatest amount of economic and educational need in Northwest Indiana, regardless of background.
- Who will be responsible for dispersing these funds?
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The Dean and Barbara White Family Foundation is donating $150 million to Big Shoulders Fund over 10 years through the newly established Mary G. White Education Fund.
Big Shoulders Fund is working closely with the Diocese of Gary to ensure this transformative investment is maximized. Through an agreed upon set of outcomes, the investment will support initiatives that focus on curriculum development, teacher training, leadership development, infrastructure improvements, student support services, new governance models, updated management structures, and assistance with enrollment and tuition management.
While support will look different at each school, the transformative gift will be accessible to and impact every school under the guidance of the Catholic Diocese of Gary to maximize graduation rates and post-secondary outcomes and achieve measurable improvements in academic performance.
- What is the Diocese of Gary’s ongoing commitment to Catholic Schools?
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Additionally, the good news continues. In response to this gift, the Diocese of Gary announced that it will establish an independent endowment within The Catholic Foundation for Northwest Indiana – a 501(c)(3) non-profit, independent corporation – by the end of the 2024 calendar year. The goal is for the invested funds to grow up to $50 million over the next 15 years to focus on the retention and compensation of principals, teachers, and staff within the Diocese of Gary schools.