A Lifeline for Schools Facing Emergency Expenses

Students, staff and parents at Immaculate Conception & Our Lady of Perpetual Help School are thankful for a Fulcrum grant to help fund seismic upgrades and celing repairs.

One fall day, the 3rd-grade class at Immaculate Conception & Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in Everett was sharply disrupted and frightened when a large section of the ceiling came crashing down, striking three of the students. Thankfully, none of the students were seriously injured, but a follow-up inspection revealed fissures and cracks in the classroom ceilings throughout the building that put students and teachers in danger.

The cost of drywall repairs and paint was estimated at close to $20,000. Additionally, the school needed to begin work on overdue seismic improvements to the unreinforced masonry building. Principal Donna Ramos wondered how to fund the projects since the school had recently spent thousands of dollars on unanticipated emergency repairs to the boiler and plumbing system. Without a significant subsidy, the school would be forced to delay other critical safety upgrades.

A strong and energetic advocate for her school, Principal Ramos turned to the Fulcrum Foundation for help. In response to her compelling appeal through the Assistance to Schools in Need (ASN) program, Fulcrum awarded the school $29,867 to fund the ceiling repairs and the initial phase of seismic improvements.

"News of the Fulcrum grant brought great relief

and a new sense of confidence and hope for the future."

--Donna Ramos, Principal

 

Immaculate Conception & Our Lady of Perpetual Help is one of many schools that has received similar sorts of grants ranging from $5,000 to $60,000 through the ASN program. For these schools and their leaders, Fulcrum Foundation is a lifeline, sharing in ther challenges and making viable their visions for a more stable future.