September 19, 2014 - MARR Scholarships Awarded for 2014-15*

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One hundred and ten (110) students attending 13 Catholic secondary schools and nine Catholic elementary schools have been awarded scholarships from the Daniel F. Marr, Jr. Scholarship Endowment Fund of the Catholic Community Fund of the Archdiocese of Boston.
 
The scholarship program, established in 1992 with a bequest from the estate of the late Daniel F. Marr, Jr. provides scholarship support for tuition assistance for students to attend Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Boston. Preference is given to students who are members of the Colonel Daniel F. Marr Boys and Girls Clubs of Dorchester, which was founded by Daniel F. Marr, Jr. and his brother, Robert L. Marr, in memory of their father, Colonel Daniel F. Marr. Since its inception, nearly 1,400 scholarships have been awarded from this fund, totaling $918,500.
 
At a scholarship awards ceremony held on September 17th at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Dorchester, Robert L. Marr said, “Establishing the Marr scholarships in memory of my brother, Dan, was by far the best thing we’ve ever done at the Boys and Girls Club. Studies confirm what we know to be true­—that a Catholic education provides tremendous benefits for students, especially those growing up in urban areas. The results of this program have been phenomenal, and it makes me very proud to know that these students are changing the face of Catholic education.”
 
Students receiving scholarships are chosen by the Boys and Girls Clubs of Dorchester, and the awards are distributed directly to their schools.  The 63 elementary school students receiving Marr Scholarships are enrolled at: Quincy Catholic Academy, Quincy; Sacred Heart School, Roslindale; Saint Agatha School, Milton; Saint Brendan School, Dorchester; Saint John Paul II Catholic Academy, Dorchester and Mattapan; Saint Mary of the Hills School, Milton; Saint Patrick School, Roxbury; Saint Pius V School, Lynn; and South Boston Catholic Academy, South Boston.
 
The 47 secondary school students receiving scholarships attend the following high schools: Archbishop Williams High School, Braintree; Boston College High School, Boston; Cathedral High School, Boston; Catholic Memorial School, West Roxbury; Cristo Rey Boston High School, Dorchester; Elizabeth Seton Academy, Dorchester; Fontbonne Academy, Milton; Matignon High School, Cambridge; Mount Alvernia High School, Newton; Notre Dame Academy, Hingham; Saint Joseph Preparatory High School, Brighton; Ursuline Academy, Dedham; and Xaverian Brothers High School, Westwood.
 
Pat Bartram, Executive Director of the Catholic Community Fund said that these scholarships are “a wonderful support for these students and their families and our Catholic schools. On average, our schools charge tuition of about 75% of the actual cost to educate a child. At the same time, coming up with several thousand dollars for tuition every year – and more for families who send more than one child – is a lot for families. We are so grateful to the late Mr. Marr, Bob Marr, and the entire Marr family for their generosity which is helping to make Catholic education possible for so many.”
 
The Catholic school system is the largest and oldest private educator of children in the U.S., annually educating two million students nationally. Over 40,000 children are educated in Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Boston, saving Massachusetts taxpayers some $580 million annually. National research shows that 99% of Catholic high school students graduate on time, and 97% go on to higher education. Studies also show that Catholic school students are: more engaged in their communities and more likely to volunteer; academically more confident, having greater confidence in writing and public speaking; more tolerant of diverse views; and attend church more frequently and place a higher value on religion.