Development officers and other representatives from nine Oahu Catholic schools and one representative from Kauai attended the first grants and funding workshop sponsored by the Hawaii Catholic Schools Diocesan Board on April 25 at St. Stephen Diocesan Center.
Twenty-five people participated in the four-and-a-half-hour presentation which featured as guest speaker Maryknoll School’s director of institutional advancement Yvonne Morris.
Morris, who has a long and successful track record channeling financial support to Maryknoll, spoke on what schools need to know to prepare themselves to pursue grants and funding.
A panel of grant-funders and grant-receivers showed the participants what grants and funding were available and how to apply for them. Panel members were Terry George, president and CEO, Harold K.L. Castle Foundation; Sue Ferandin, executive director, Augustine Educational Foundation; Tonya Stevenson, associate director, Augustine Educational Foundation; Ann Medeiros, parent, St. John Vianney School; and Andrea Hamilton, development director, Sacred Hearts Academy.
Superintendent of Catholic Schools Mike Rockers introduced the workshop. He stressed the need for schools to look for available financial resources to help them meet 21st century educational goals.
The workshop concluded with a PowerPoint presentation on practical tips on writing grants by Anne Harpham, executive assistant/advancement coordinator of Maryknoll’s Institutional Advancement Office. Her presentation prompted many questions and answers on the nuts and bolts of writing grants.
