Donors Support Opportunity and Access at CDH

April 14, 2021

Cretin-Derham Hall is proud to offer an outstanding education at one of the most affordable price points in the metro area. However, tuition can still be out of reach for many families. 

Thanks to our many generous donors, the Admissions team is able to offer both need-based tuition assistance and merit scholarships to our incoming students, totaling nearly $3 million for the 2020-21 school year.

“CDH offers relatively affordable tuition, however it's still a significant commitment for our families,” said Sean Van Gemert ’96, Admissions Director. “Our hope is that all families that have a strong desire for a CDH education are able to afford to send their children here.”

That mission is shared with the Flaherty Family Foundation, which works with schools across the country to make exceptional education affordable.

The Foundation was created in 1990 by Ed Flaherty, a serial entrepreneur and product of Catholic education himself. Rather than planning to leave his wealth to his children, he committed his entire net worth to helping other young people access the same educational advantages.

CDH has been a partner school since 2016, and the Foundation funds up to five incoming ninth-graders each year. Each student receives up to $5,000 in tuition assistance from the Flaherty Foundation annually. Those funds make it possible for students to attend great schools like CDH.

“The opportunity to attend CDH made me realize that I needed to put more effort into school,” said Cameron Jackson ‘20. “CDH challenged me academically. I eventually learned how to meet those challenges, which has helped me in every aspect of life. CDH also gave me opportunities to be a part of a community that wants to see you succeed.”

The Scholars are surrounded by people who want them to succeed, both at the Foundation and at CDH. In the spirit of caring for the whole person, students can apply for additional grants from the Foundation for outside activities. Jackson, for example, was able to take piano classes and a money management course. They also receive additional support through the Foundation in the form of mentoring and accountability.

“The Flaherty Family Foundation has helped me through my freshman year of high school despite COVID-19 and all that is going on,” said Vincent Pham ’24, a current Flaherty Scholar. “They encouraged me to strive forward and get good grades, make friends, and persevere to be better than myself.”

With thirty years of experience, Flaherty has found that it’s that encouragement and support that makes the biggest difference. 

“It’s humbling,” he said. “Decades later, these students tell me that what really mattered was having someone who believed they were worth the investment.”

That emotional investment continues as students begin to consider their post-high school plans. Flaherty and his daughter, Beth Flaherty, who now runs the foundation, take care to guide their Scholars down the road that they believe will best set them up for success. They want students to understand the burden of student debt, and encourage them to seek an affordable degree - with a rule of thumb that they should graduate with no more than $22,000 of debt. 

“Our motto is, ‘Once a Flaherty Scholar, always a Flaherty Scholar.’ If students continue to participate, we’ll continue to help. We’ve seen firsthand that changing the trajectory of one scholar can impact an entire family.”

The Flaherty Family Foundation continues to connect with their students and prepare them to launch into adulthood.

“They connect us with mentors who meet with us and discuss topics like money management, mental health, and other skills. They also help us build a network of friends and mentors across the country,” said Jackson, who is now attending St. John’s University.

Flaherty Scholarships are available to incoming ninth-graders whose families have demonstrated financial need. Interested families should reach out to Admissions Director Sean Van Gemert at svangemert@c-dh.org.

“The ideal Flaherty Scholars are students that understand the benefits of a faith-based education. They know that CDH is the right fit for them,” Van Gemert said. “They are self-motivated, have a strong desire to succeed, and want to be leaders in the community. CDH takes great pride in being a diverse community, a place where different perspectives and backgrounds meld creating a stronger environment because of the sum of our parts.”

If you, like the Flaherty Family Foundation, would like to help make a CDH education affordable for all qualified students, reach out to Vice President of Advancement Rob Bollinger at rbollinger@c-dh.org or make a donation today.