Piarist School and Colegio Calasanz
Colegio Calasanz Fund
The Future of Colegio Calasanz Depends on Us
Dear Calasanz Family—Alumni, Longtime Friends, and New Partners
For generations, the halls of Colegio Calasanz in San Juan have echoed with the laughter, prayers, and ambitions of students who were taught that they could change the world. Today, those same halls need your help to stay open.
While our mission remains as strong as the day St. Joseph Calasanz founded the Piarist order, the reality of operating a premier educational institution in San Juan has reached a critical point. Tuition alone does not cover the true cost of a Calasanz education. To maintain our campus, retain our world-class faculty, and keep our doors open to the community, we must bridge the gap in our general operating expenses.
To Our Alumni:
You walked these corridors. You remember the teachers who didn't just give you a grade, but gave you a moral compass. The education you received was a gift made possible by those who came before you. Now, it is your turn to ensure that a child in San Juan today has the same foundation you did. Don’t let the Calasanz legacy end with your graduating class.
To Our Benefactors: Our Bedrock:
You have stood by us through hurricanes, economic shifts, and seasons of change. Your past generosity is the reason we are still standing. We are asking you to renew your commitment today. Operating costs—electricity, security, and facility maintenance—are the "invisible" needs that make our visible miracles possible. Your continued support is our stability.
To Our New Donors: Our Vision
If you are looking for an investment with a 100% social return, this is it. By supporting Colegio Calasanz, you aren't just funding a school; you are fighting poverty through the most effective weapon available: Education. You are helping us form the next generation of Puerto Rico’s leaders, scientists, and compassionate citizens.
The "Bridge the Gap" Reality
We are currently seeking to raise funds to cover essential operating deficits for the upcoming school year.
Your Gift Supports and has Direct Impact on:
Operational Fund: Keeps the lights on, the AC running, and the campus secure.
Faculty Retention: Ensures our students are taught by the best Piarist-trained educators.
Infrastructure: Repairs to historic campus buildings that have weathered decades of Caribbean seasons.
How You Can Help Today
"Give me a child at the beginning of his life, and I will give you back a man of character." A Piarist Promise.
Help us keep that promise. Help us keep Colegio Calasanz open. Click the donate button in the upper right corner and then click Colegio Calasanz. To discuss Donor Advised Funds, or Legacy gifts to Colegio Calasanz, contact Piarist Fathers Development Director, Mr. Kevin Owens, at piaristfl@bellsouth.net.
The Piarist School
“The story of poverty in Appalachia is complicated, but it didn’t happen overnight. Back when coal mining and logging were booming, this region had its share of work. It wasn’t easy work—far from it—but it was steady. But then the mines began to close, factories moved away, and jobs dried up. Suddenly, whole communities were left with little to hold onto. Moreover, let me tell you, when jobs go, everything else follows. Schools, healthcare, small businesses, everything gets hit hard.
The Struggles of Today
Even now, things haven’t gotten much better for many families in Appalachia. Some counties have poverty rates as high as 30%, and healthcare and job opportunities are scarce. Addiction—especially to opioids—has only made things worse. The land may be beautiful, but life for a lot of folks here is anything but.
In some of the hollers, it can feel like the outside world has forgotten about us. Houses are falling apart, and too many families rely on government assistance just to make ends meet. But the hardest thing to see is the children who grow up thinking this is normal—like struggling is just part of life.
Strength in Community
But if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that the people of Appalachia are tough. We’re survivors. When times are hard, we take care of each other. When someone’s out of work, neighbors step in. If a family doesn’t have food, the community finds a way to get them through. It’s not charity, it’s just how we do things around here.
Churches and local groups are the lifeline for so many families. Food pantries, clothing drives, and Christmas toy giveaways—these small acts of kindness make a big difference. I’ve seen it with my own eyes. When there’s not much to go around, people share what little they have.
Way Forward
Here’s the thing: people in Appalachia don’t want handouts. We want opportunities.” (The Quiet Struggle: Poverty in Appalachia by Tim Carmichael)
The Piarist Fathers at The Piarist School are providing that opportunity. The Piarist Fathers believe that to institute change there must be action, and we believe that the greatest change starts with education. 35 years ago, Fr. Tom Carroll, Sch.P. came to Kentucky and started The Piarist School, which was open to all and offered a college preparatory school. Over 35 years the school has maintained an astonishing 100% college acceptance rate, which clearly is a beacon of hope when compared to the current concerning academic statistics in the Appalachian region. The school is tuition free and runs on the generosity of people just like you.
Against statistical odds, the Piarist Fathers and our benefactors together are making a difference by having impact, creating hope and being a beacon of hope in Eastern Kentucky. We invite you to be a part of this proven, unique and impactful work that we do in Eastern Kentucky.