The St. Katharine Drexel Catholic School Fund was established to benefit financially-struggling parishes, so they can carry out the mission of Catholic education.

Many parishes throughout our Diocese have a significant number of families living at or below the poverty level, making it difficult to support the education of parish youth.

The schools they support – like all parish schools in the Diocese of Wichita – work to form students as disciples of Jesus Christ.

But teachers in Drexel-supported parishes earn 28 percent less than those at other diocesan schools. These schools lack support staff; they lack technology; they often lack a functioning library or gymnasium. And their nearly 2,000 students are more likely to depend on parish schools for meals, homework help and emotional support.

You can support these schools in three ways.

• Contact a Drexel-supported parish to find out about volunteer opportunities.
• Make a pledge or one-time cash gift through the Drexel Fund to be distributed directly to the parishes.
• Invest in these schools by making a pledge or gift to the St. Drexel Endowment, so that the interest from your gift can be distributed to these parishes for years to come.

Contact the Office of Development & Planned Giving ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 316.269.3917) to learn how you can impact the lives of thousands of children in our diocese.

Learn more about the St. Katharine Drexel Catholic School Fund.

"The students who benefit by our small gifts will profit in their faith formation and foundation. What could be more important than responding to the call to assist in the continued support of such fantastic students who are and will become the future of our Church?"

Jason and Chrissy Searl, St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Wichita