Donations Make Catholic School Scholarships Available to Families in Need

When Tazama Brackenridge’s daughter gave birth to a baby while still a child herself, the responsibility of raising the little guy fell on Tazama. She chose a very special name for him — Messiah.

“I intentionally named him Messiah after our Heavenly Father’s only begotten son, in hopes that he will allow the light from the Messiah to shine through him and in everything he does and everywhere he goes,” Tazama said. “I am grandma, but now I’m grandma and mom because I have guardianship of him. Both his parents were children when they had him and neither were in a mental or financial place to care for him like he needed.”

While Tazama was able to care for and raise Messiah, when it came time for school, she simply couldn’t afford to send Messiah to a Catholic school — a school that a young man with a Godly name and upbringing deserves.

That is when the Catholic Education Foundation (CEF) of the Diocese of Joliet, through the help of its generous donors, stepped in and offered a partial scholarship for Messiah to attend All Saints Catholic Academy in Naperville.

“I attended Catholic school, and the benefits of that from when I was a child made a significant impact in my adult life as far as my morals and values,” Tazama said. “I always wanted him to get a faith-based education, but I just couldn’t afford it.”

“I think that All Saints has given him that extra boost of confidence to let the light of Jesus shine through him,” she added. “I really believe wholeheartedly that Messiah is in an environment conducive to who he is. I believe he is at home at All Saints and is where he’s supposed to be. I thank God for everyone that made it possible for him to get that foundation academically and spiritually, and have it cultivated and nurtured.”

If you can donate, please visit cefjoliet.org.

Catholic Education Foundation : 815.221.6127 : 16555 Weber Road : Crest Hill, IL 60403: http://cefjoliet.org/