DAY OF GIVING
JANUARY 30, 2024, 7AM-7PM
Your gift may be doubled!

Why your donation matters?

As an important supporter of Catholic education, we want you to know how we are adjusting to the changes in education in our state:

• The Arkansas LEARNS Act raised public school starting teacher salaries by nearly 40%.
• In an effort to remain competitive and retain our highly qualified faculty and staff, Sacred Heart provided significant bonuses to our K-12 employees. Although this did not equate to the same compensation as the public school raises, continued increases are planned.
• Providing bonuses increased the school’s operating budget by 18%.
• The LEARNS Act also created Educational Freedom Accounts – or EFAs – for qualified students. The EFAs cover up to 84% of the Sacred Heart tuition cost, before any subsidy/discounts from the school and other tuition assistance are applied. Seventy-seven students are participating in the EFA program in year 1; this is expected to increase and, by year 3, all students will be eligible.
• Even with EFAs, the Sacred Heart operating budget is still heavily reliant on donor support – including the Bazaar, Oktoberfest, Trivia Night, the Day of Giving, and Project Promise.

Project Promise

Today's Promise for Tomorrow's Future

Project Promise recognizes donors who commit to a monthly donation to Sacred Heart Catholic School through ongoing credit card payments or bank drafts. This includes any donor who gives at least $15/month to the school’s annual fund. You choose the amount you want to pledge and you may cancel your monthly gift at any time simply by notifying us in writing.**

Project Promise Members Receive

• A special members-only magnet – as a reminder of the difference you are making and as our thank you gift to you
• A tax letter acknowledging your cumulative annual contribution, mailed each January.
• Recognition in The HeartBeat newsletters and Annual Report

If you would like to join us in Today’s Promise for Tomorrow’s Future by becoming a member of Project Promise, please complete and return the FORM or sign up online today.

As you are likely aware, significant changes have taken place in the education sector over the past four years. This is especially true in Arkansas with the introduction of Education Freedom Accounts that may be used to pay for private school tuition. This, along with the generosity of our faithful supporters, has allowed Sacred Heart to make the following improvements:

• Added 14 new courses to our academic course catalog and made improvements to the Honors program.
• Opened a Learning Services center, with both academic and life skills classrooms, for students needing extra help.
• Added faculty positions including: Reading Interventionist, School Nurse, Math Interventionist/Elementary Counselor, and Special Education certified staff in the Learning Services classroom.
• Increased operating budget by 18% in order to remain competitive with recent public school salary increases.
• Provided tuition assistance to maintain affordability for any family interested in Catholic education.

Project Promise continues to be one our most impactful campaigns! Knowing that most donors will continue to participate helps us to plan for the year ahead. We appreciate your consideration. 

For as Pope John Paul said, “… no Catholic school can be effective without dedicated Catholic teachers, convinced of the great ideal of Catholic education. The Church needs men and women who are intent on teaching by word and example – intent on helping to permeate the whole educational milieu with the spirit of Christ. This is a great vocation, and the Lord himself will reward all who serve in it as educators in the cause of the word of God.” – Message of John Paul II to the National Catholic Educational Association of the United States, April 16, 1979

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

You are invited to join other alumni and supporters of Catholic education in a leadership group that is propelling our school into the new century equipped with the resources to enhance and strengthen the school’s high quality academic programs which are integrated with religious truth and values.

Alumni and friends of the school who make annual gifts of $1,000 or more are recognized as members of the Founders’ Society.  Donors make a significant impact on the school’s ability to meet the needs of Sacred Heart. Specifically, the annual fund supports investments directly in our faculty and staff by providing annual raises and opportunities for other compensation through the Kathleen Smith Teacher Recruitment and Retention Fund..

Founders’ Society Giving Levels:
All gifts are 100% tax deductible.  The following gift societies recognize annual pledges at all levels.

$10,000+               Society of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

$5000-$9999        Father Charles Steurer Society,
                             Named for the first pastor of Sacred Heart Catholic Church

$2500-$4999        Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny Society                    
                              Named for the first teachers at Sacred Heart from Cluny France

$1000-$2499        School Sisters of Notre Dame Society                    
                             Named for the Sisters who taught at Sacred Heart from 1899 - 1984

Every gift makes an impact and no gift is too small. 
All donations will be recognized and benefit Sacred Heart Catholic School:
$500-$999        1879 Society (the year the school opened)        
$100-$499        Circle of Red & White (our Spirit colors)                    
Up to $100        Friends of Sacred Heart (all donations appreciated; no gift too small)