The Alliance for Catholic Urban Education (ACUE) held its annual Leadership Solicitation Kickoff on Thursday morning, August 27 at the Diocese of Covington’s Bishop Howard Memorial Auditorium, Covington, in anticipation of the solicitation calls made throughout the month of October. The Kickoff provided volunteer solicitors with an overview of their vital role in the success of the ACUE Annual Fund. The Annual Fund is led by Mr. Nick Winnike of Villa Hills as General Chair. He is joined by over sixty volunteers currently making calls to ACUE’s leadership donors who collectively provide 80% of the funds required in support of the significant need for tuition assistance by ACUE students. In contacting past donors, the message is always one of gratitude and the hope they will join others again in support of this truly meaningful ministry.
At the Kickoff, Mr. Winnike spoke from the heart regarding his reasons for involvement with ACUE and addressed the volunteers as members of his ACUE Family. He also mentioned the logic behind his support of ACUE: the powerful way a values-based education lifts children out of poverty and develops future leaders. The ACUE schools’ small classrooms give students the attention needed to thrive academically and spiritually. Over 40% of ACUE students are non-Catholic. The schools are beacons of hope in their communities and allow the diocese to maintain an important presence among its urban neighbors.
The five ACUE schools serve a largely economically disadvantaged population with all five schools qualifying for the federally funded Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), meaning 100% of students may receive free breakfast and lunch. The five ACUE schools are Holy Cross Elementary, Latonia; Holy Trinity School, Bellevue/Newport/Dayton; Prince of Peace School, Covington/Ludlow; St. Anthony School, Taylor Mill; and St. Augustine School, Covington.
