Rose Defer, Development Director for St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School, Talks Expansion Projects, Pandemic Adjustments, Faith, Family Support, and Affordability with Tax Credit Scholarships with Colleen McCoy-Cejka, Dir. of Partnerships at CEA

Rose Defer, the Development Director for St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School, serves as proof of the good that a Catholic education can do. Having gone to Catholic schools in her youth, she describes feeling blessed that she can professionally serve the community that she grew up in.

She rose through local ranks and now provides opportunities for children who are seeking a Catholic education, just as she once did. Defer discusses with Colleen McCoy-Cejka, the Director of Partnerships at CEA, the ways that St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School is making a difference for underprivileged families.

Making Catholic Education Obtainable

Defer and CEA share the belief that education at Arizona Catholic schools should be within reach for every family, no matter their economic standing. Some parents want their children to experience a value-driven education, as they did, but feel financially unable to do so. Some just want their children to have a high-quality education, and understandably so. According to the Center for Education Reform, 99% of students attending Catholic high school graduate.

Defer and St. Vincent’s are making the impossible a reality for these families. The school holds training sessions — showing parents how to apply for necessary tuition assistance. The school is happy to provide one-on-one help to those suffering financially due to COVID. The school also works with local banks — setting up families with bank accounts. Defer details, ‘It’s really been a blessing to be able to teach some of our parents about bank accounts, to be able to have them understand how to apply, and then to also give them the support they need, in both Spanish and English, to be able to apply for STOs.’

A Low-Effort Way to Contribute

Many Arizona taxpayers would jump at the chance to offer help to Catholic families struggling economically, but don’t know where to begin. What they don’t realize is that all they have to do is, come tax season, inquire about using tax credits to support children receiving Catholic scholarships. When discussing this with people, Defer describes, ‘We all have to pay Arizona state tax. You have the power to redirect some of what you pay in taxes to support Catholic education, whether you do it at St. Vincent DePaul, or you put it towards the general fund that helps the most needy children.’

Defer continues, ‘80% of our families are at that highest level of need. Most of our families are living … below the poverty level. When I explain that to a potential donor, somebody to redirect their taxes, I let them know that these dollars really go right back to the schools.’ Defer also redirects people to CEA’s website to learn how to make the most of their tax credits.

If you would like to utilize your tax credits to benefit children in need, we encourage you to reach out to our team at Catholic Education Arizona today.