Since 1998, Catholic Education Arizona has provided over 157,000 tuition scholarships for underserved children in the Diocese of Phoenix. These scholarships enable families to choose a quality Catholic education for their children. Lara Velasquez is just one example of a young servant leader who has benefited from a Catholic education. 

“My education has always been grounded in my faith, and my identity as a disciple is an indispensable part of who I am today,” said Lara, Notre Dame Preparatory Valedictorian Class of 2024. She graduated with a stellar 4.46 weighted GPA and earned an AP Capstone Diploma. 

Along with academic excellence, Lara’s Catholic education taught her the value in serving others. “A ‘Servant Leader’ uses their God-given talents to positively contribute to their community and lead others towards achieving common goals,” she said. Lara helped launch “Smiles for Christmas,” a joyful day of celebration for over 200 K-12 underserved Catholic school students. “As Co-President of the planning committee, I watched this inaugural event evolve from a mere idea to an incredibly fun day of celebrating our faith community,” she shared.

Your generosity can create future leaders just like Lara. Through Arizona Private Education and Corporate Tax Credits, planned gifts, and traditional donations, Catholic Education Arizona opens doors for underserved students, transforming lives and communities. Catholic Education Arizona and the Diocese of Phoenix Catholic Schools deliver outstanding outcomes:

  • 99% graduation rate 
  • 96% matriculation to higher education, trade school, or enter military service
  • 1000s of hours of community service conducted annually

Lara is now taking on her next challenge in education, majoring in Dance and Biological Sciences at Chapman University on a Pre-med pathway. Lara attributes her academic success to her Catholic education, which prepared her for academic challenges and servant leadership. 

Changing Lives One Scholarship at a Time 

Since 1998, Catholic Education Arizona has raised $363 million and provided over 157,000 scholarships to underserved students. Make an impact today, call (602) 218-6542 to learn how you can transform a child’s future.