Page 31 - 2025 April Report

Grant Program Committee minutes (draft) (5)
US and Latin America. (JSF funding has previously been and will be earmarked for US programs only.) They are proud to report their students’ college persistence rate is 89%. The national rate for all students is 75%. 93% of their students leave college with less than $5,500 in debt.
They are requesting a combination of support for student scholarships and support for the very hands-on wrap around support services. They need funding for both, and do not want one aspect of their work outgrowing the other. They would like to see growth particularly in their academy programs. Residential programs cost nearly 3 times as much. They never “push” residential living, but some family situations make it a necessity.
Kristin and Bill were thanked and excused from the meeting.
There was discussion about the residential component of the programs offered. Bobby said that he had visited one of the residences previously and hoped that other Directors would have the opportunity to do the same as they attend Hope Inspires events in Baltimore and St. Louis.
The Committee voted unanimously to approve as presented an application from Boys Hope Girls Hope for a 1:1 matching grant of $300,000 for college scholarships and $200,000 for student wrap around support over 5 years.
d. Providence St. Mel School
Jeanette Butala, President; Paul J. Adams, III, Founder and Executive Chairman; and Jim Rojahn, Director of Institutional Advancement, joined the meeting via Zoom. A proposal requesting $500,000 over five years had been circulated along with reports from a December 17, 2024 and a January 29, 2025 Zoom meetings and a JSF summary of applicant financial information. Providence St. Mel is a previous JSF grantee.
Jeanette explained that their goal is to reach 450 students by 2030. This year they have 283 students and expect a few more in the coming weeks. Their enrollment numbers had been on the decline from a high in 2010 but have increased recently.
Theirs is a rigorous college-prep curriculum. Their students work hard under their mantra: work – plan – build – dream. They boast that 100% of their graduates are accepted into 4-year colleges with 95% actually attending college. They have 3 counselors with plans to hire an additional counselor plus a social worker next year. The average monthly cost for a student to attend is $285. They would like to get that number even lower for their families.
They said they are able to hire qualified teachers even though their benefits package is less than Chicago public schools. They believe their teachers are highly motivated to teach these students.
The surrounding community experiences one of the highest rates of violence in the nation. This year the effects of that violence have been especially difficult for the school, with several of their families directly impacted. The school provides counseling for students and waives tuition for the remainder of the school year for families experiencing a death to help ease their burdens.
Jeanette, Paul and Jim were thanked and the Zoom link disconnected.
Committee members are impressed with this school, the work they are doing, and their commitment to their students and the community. There is concern, however, of the Key Person risk they could face. Paul has stepped back, though clearly is not prepared to fully retire. Jeanette is a strong driving force. Is her successor being cultivated or otherwise developed? Staff was directed to request information on success plans.
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