PHOENIX, AZ (November 30, 2020) -- Bourgade Catholic High School received an encouraging phone call on September 29th. The call was from a representative of The Burton Family Foundation, announcing that Bourgade had been chosen as a recipient for a $75,000 grant to support two important initiatives.
This school year, 64% of Bourgade families reported a household income of less than $60,000 per year, with 47% reporting less than $40,000 per year making the $17,500 cost of tuition a heavy burden for many. In an effort to help make tuition affordable for the 2020-2021 school year, Bourgade is projected to distribute $2.3 million of internal financial aid, which is nearly $1 million greater than last year. As the financial aid commitment increases, funding for initiatives like program expansion, student resources or facility upgrades becomes significantly depleted. However, with the support of The Burton Family Foundation, Bourgade is able to give attention to resource needs and help students maintain a successful track of education.
The grant monies will be used to fund new and upgraded technology resources for teachers and their classrooms. Like many schools, Bourgade is still adjusting to how the pandemic has affected the traditional teaching environment. As the challenges of online and hybrid learning quickly took over, Bourgade was left scrambling to adjust leaving optimism and the budget running low. With the support of The Burton Family Foundation, Bourgade is in a prime position to address some of the technology needs to enhance the unique learning environments that students find themselves in.
The grant will also cover the costs of 186 total AP exams being taken by 116 Bourgade students in May of 2021. With the steady growth of Bourgade’s Advanced Placement program, so too has the success grown. Just three years ago, Bourgade acclaimed 3 students who had earned a perfect score of 5 on an AP exam. This past summer, 18 Bourgade AP students were heralded with a perfect score on an exam. Several others achieved scores of 3 and 4, and one student was named a College Board AP Scholar for earning a 3 or higher on 3 or more exams.
Mr. Javier Bravo, Bourgade’s principal, shared how the grant has impacted the community, “Thanks to the tremendous generosity of The Burton Family Foundation, our teachers will have access to technology to provide quality, curricular content to our students as they navigate the waters of hybrid teaching. And our AP students have received a confidence in their efforts that will not only impact them but also their families.”
As times continue to remain uncertain, the support from The Burton Family Foundation firmly paves a path of success and opportunity for the community of Bourgade Catholic High School.
For inquiries or requests for further information regarding this information, please contact Bryan Burgoz at bburgoz@bourgadecatholic.org.
