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| Dear Catholic School Supporter,Donate Now |
Thank you!!! Happy New Year! 2021 was an outstanding year for the STO and Catholic school families who rely on our tuition assistance. Your generosity to the Our Faith STO allowed us to meet our goal in mid-December of $5,391,464. This total equates to over $4 million worth of 2021 Iowa income tax credits distributed to donors helping families attend our Archdiocesan schools.Your generosity also exceeded the amount given in 2020 by $846,478! This additional amount will enable hundreds of extra students to receive STO tuition assistance for the 2022-23 school year. Did you know?…On average, in 2021, fewer donors gave more, pushing us to our goal and shutting others out of tax credits. Almost 300 donors from 2020 missed out on their opportunity to receive a tax credit in 2021. The 75% Iowa income tax credit remains a key benefit to our Catholic school supporters. If you missed out on tax credits in 2021, make it your New Year’s resolution to donate earlier to ensure the tax credit benefit.The STO is now accepting Pledge donations for 2022!For the first time, the STO will be accepting pledge donations in 2022. Since many potential 2021 donors missed out on their tax credits last year, we’ve decided to now allow you to reserve credits for 2022 by pledging your donation. The STO will accept pledges until Dec 1, 2022, with payment for the contribution due no later than Dec 15, 2022. Credits reserved but without payment will be given to other donors after Dec 15. To learn more or to make your pledge today click here:Pledge nowDuplicate tax credit certificates are available.The beginning of the year marks when many of us gather our tax paperwork. The Our Faith STO’s practice is to send out acknowledgment letters and tax credit certificates within 2-4 weeks of your donation. In late November and early December, we experienced a flurry of giving, which backed up our distribution of this paperwork. If you did not receive your tax credit certificate or misplaced your certificate, please contact me to request a duplicate.In looking back at 2021, I am grateful for the opportunity to serve our Archdiocesan families who count on our STO tuition assistance. With much gratitude, I also look back at the relationships I’ve formed with our donors. For both, your commitment to Catholic education is inspiring.Take Care and God Bless! |
| Why do I teach in a Catholic School? |
 Ronald BroxsonDyersville Beckman Grades 7 & 8 8 Years Teaching EnglishWhy do I choose to teach in a Catholic school: When looking for the right place to teach, I didn’t seek out any Catholic schools. Rather, God guided me to where I needed to be: Beckman Catholic. After graduating from the University of Dubuque, I was applying for teaching positions around the area, but most schools didn’t want to bother with a guy lacking teaching experience. This search had me questioning whether or not teaching was truly the right path for me, so I took some time to pray. Shortly after, Mr. Meade, the previous principal at Beckman Catholic, called me up about a job interview, and the rest is history. Since being at Beckman, my Catholic faith has grown because of the priceless opportunities that the school provides. It’s also a privilege to include Jesus and all of his teachings at any point in my classes without being reprimanded. I’m blessed to have gone this route.How has God affirmed that I’ve made the right choice: At Beckman Catholic, I have had numerous experiences proving I made the right decision to be there. Throughout the school year, I get asked to help run retreats with our junior high theology teacher Mrs. Derr. When I get to see so many different students come together and come closer to God, my jaw will sometimes drop. Then my heart swells up with pride knowing our students can put aside their too-cool-for-school side and show that they can genuinely care for one another.Family Bio: I’ve been teaching 7-12 English the past 8 years. My parents live in Guttenberg, Iowa, and my soon-to-be-saint mother also teaches at a Catholic school. Her faith and dedication to helping students have inspired me to always strive for more and better. |
| Applications for 2022-23 STO Tuition assistance are now being accepted.Here are a few important things you should know. |
| The online FACTS application for STO assistance can be found at https://online.factsmgt.com/aid. If a family applied through FACTS last year, they should use the same user name and password for this years applicationFamilies must upload a completed 2021 federal tax return and related tax documents if they are required to file a federal return.The STO application deadline is April 15, 2022. Thus, families will need to have their 2021 Federal Tax Return completed and uploaded by April 15th.To qualify for STO assistance household income can not exceed 400% of the federal poverty rates. The federal guidelines for 2022 are not yet available, but when available they can be found at Ourfaithsto.org/faqs-for-parents (the 2021 guidelines are currently available as a reference)If a family needs assistance with their application please call the FACTS Helpline at 866-315-9262 Monday – Thursday 7:00 am to 7:00 pm and Friday 7:00 am to 5 pm. |
 For more information on the Our Faith STO, please contact:Deacon Brian Zeman Director- Our Faith STO b.zeman@dbqarch.org (563) 556-2580, ext. 296 or visit OurFaithSTO.org |