March 22, 2012

On March 8, Catholic Inner-City Schools Education  (CISE) Fund held its annual volunteer appreciation event at St. Francis de Sales School celebrating the success of the 2011 campaign.

With leadership from Jim Neyer, campaign chair, and Bill and Dave Neyer, co-chairs, the 2011 CISE Campaign raised nearly $2.3 million in unrestricted funds for the CISE schools.

Sixth grade students from St. Francis Seraph School in Over-the-Rhine opened the program with a African drum performance. Mya Pickett, an eighth grade student from St. Francis Seraph, spoke addressed the group of donors and volunteers. She expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to attend a Catholic school and shared with the group her plans and dreams for the future, which include attending Seton High School with the help of a CISE scholarship, college, medical school and a career in pathology.

In his remarks, Jim Neyer attributed the success of the campaign to the efforts of many volunteers, board members and team members who worked together to exceed the challenging $2.25 million goal.

CISE is a non-profit organization supporting eight Catholic schools in Cincinnati’s poorest neighborhoods. Contributions to CISE make it possible for children living in poverty to have the option of a Catholic School Education with the support, encouragement and excellent curriculum it provides. Of the more than 1,400 students in the CISE schools, 83 percent are not Catholic and 90 percent are from low-income families. In addition to these students, CISE provides scholarship assistance to over 200 CISE graduates currently enrolled in area Catholic high schools. The elementary schools supported by CISE are St. Francis Seraph in Over-the-Rhine; St. Joseph on Ezzard Charles; Holy Family and Resurrection in Price Hill; Prince of Peace in Madisonville; St. Francis de Sales in East Walnut Hills; Corryville Catholic; and St. Boniface in Northside.