Edgewood, KY – St. Elizabeth Healthcare has pledged $250,000 total over the next five years to the Alliance for Catholic Urban Education (ACUE) to provide tuition assistance to economically disadvantaged students in Northern Kentucky. The donation will support students (grades K-8) who attend six diocesan urban elementary schools in Campbell and Kenton counties.

“Our vision of becoming one of the healthiest communities in America involves more than quality medical care,” said Garren Colvin, CEO of St. Elizabeth Healthcare. “It starts with providing a healthy, safe and nurturing environment for our youth.”

More than 50 percent of ACUE students live in poverty and most families can’t afford the cost of their child’s education. The parishes and schools in these neighborhoods provide a quality, values-based education to children regardless of their faith, ethnicity, ability or economic status. In fact, 40 percent of ACUE students are not Catholic.

“Education is, and has been, the Church’s best tool in the fight against poverty,” said Beth Ruehlmann, director of development for Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Covington. “Partners like St. Elizabeth recognize the impact of education on a child’s health and wellbeing.”

ACUE schools include Holy Cross Elementary, Latonia; Holy Family Elementary, Covington; Holy Trinity Elementary and Junior High, Bellevue and Newport; Prince of Peace Elementary, Covington; St. Anthony Elementary, Taylor Mill; and St. Augustine Elementary, Covington.

The small class sizes provide personal attention to each student to improve academic performance and character development. More than 90 percent of eighth-grade graduates attend Catholic high schools. The community benefits, too. Of these eighth-grade graduates, 98 percent enroll in a traditional, four-year college or trade school.

Ruehlmann said these outcomes would not be possible without generous support from its 13 urban parishes, the Dioceses and individual and corporate gifts. For the first time in its history, ACUE is projected to raise $1 million for its annual appeal that ends on June 30.

“Our generous partners not only provide tuition assistance to our students in need, but they help the Diocese maintain an important commitment to our urban areas,” said Ruehlmann. “This is one of the only investments we can make right now to determine our future.”

To learn more about ACUE, visit covdio.org/schools/acue/ or contact Ruehlmann at bruehlmann@covdio.org or (859) 392-1544.