De La Salle North Catholic HS Luncheon Raises $273,360 for Financial Aid

Portland, OR. The Changing Destinies Financial Aid Luncheon drew over 225 people to raise funds for financial aid for students at De La Salle North Catholic High School. The April 26th benefit raised $273,360. At the luncheon, longtime supporter Steve Spence had a chance to talk with one of the students at the North Portland school. (Photo credit, Andrea Lonas Photography)

Here’s a video which explains some of the details of the unique program.

From De La Salle North Catholic HS:

Thank you to our sponsors! 

Wieden + Kennedy

Clark Foundation

OnPoint Community Credit Union

Providence Health & Services 

Reliable Credit

The Standard

Walsh Construction

Our mission is to provide an affordable, college preparatory, faith-based education to young men and women throughout the Portland metro area with limited financial resources.  Over 325 years ago, St. John Baptist de La Salle, the founder of the De La Salle Christian Brothers and their schools, established the practice of providing a Christian education to the young, especially those who are most on the margins of society.  Today, along with the support and sponsorship of the De La Salle Christian Brothers (San Francisco New Orleans District), De La Salle North Catholic strives to continue this mission.

Since the school was founded in 2001, our school has continued to grow and develop into a community of dedicated teachers and staff who, along with our many corporate work-study partners and volunteers, provide our unique education to capable, motivated and interested young people.

What is so unique about our school:

1. Our school turns no one away based on an inability to pay tuition. Even though our tuition is more than $10,000 less than any other private, Catholic high school in our area, most of our families still would find it hard to afford our low tuition.
2. Every student in our school works five days each month at “real-world” jobs. Not only does the money they earn at these jobs off-set nearly 60% of the cost to educate each student, but the work experience is life-changing for them. We are a founding member of the Cristo Rey Network® of schools which, today, number over 30 and are located in every major urban area throughout the United States.
3. In that we are a relatively small, faith-based school, we can provide a safe and supportive environment where students truly do “enter to learn and leave to serve” (our school’s motto).
4. Our students don’t simply graduate high school; over 95% have been accepted to colleges and universities—each and every year.  Our students go to college with employable skills which help them pay for their college education, which ultimately, will help them break the cycle of poverty.  Their success is a result of a culture of goal setting and achieving high standards by blending rigorous academics, four years of professional work experience and Catholic morals.

So, on behalf of our religious sponsor, the De La Salle Christian Brothers, the Board of Trustees and the entire De La Salle North Catholic community, thank you for your interest and we invite you to come visit our students and experience how we are transforming Portland’s inner-city youth, one student at a time!