The Catholic Inner City Schools Education Fund (CISE) kicked off the 2008 campaign Sept. 11 at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. The CISE Campaign is the major source of funding for CISE and is crucial in the fund’s efforts to provide scholarships, operating support and enrichment programs for the eight CISE K-8 schools.

CT/TONY TRIBBLE

John Pepper was the keynote speaker.

Around 1,400 children at these schools will benefit from the CISE program during the 2008-09 school year. Eighty-two percent of those students live below the poverty level. CISE schools are inclusive of all and a high percentage of CISE students are non-Catholic. In addition to those children, there are currently more than 230 graduates of CISE schools attending local Catholic high schools with help from donors to the fund.

The CISE schools are St. Francis Seraph in Over-the-Rhine, St. Francis de Sales in Walnut Hills, St. Boniface in Northside, St. Joseph in the West End, Corryville Catholic, Resurrection and Holy Family in Price Hill, and Prince of Peace in Madisonville.

CISE was established in 1980 by the late Cardinal Joseph L. Bernardin, who was then Archbishop of Cincinnati. With the idea that education is the best way to break the cycle of poverty, CISE was established as a ministry to children in poor neighborhoods as a means for overcoming their unique challenges by giving them knowledge, discipline and faith.

In 2006 the CISE schools began serving children receiving Ohio EdChoice vouchers. More than 400 voucher students are enrolled for the current academic year.

For more information about CISE, call 513-421-3131 or go to www.cisefund.org.