The Brookside Gives Back Fund, held at the Catholic Community Foundation, has made a distribution of $16,000 to support tuition assistance for students at Holy Family Catholic School and Saint Columbkille Catholic School, both in Parma. This is the second consecutive year for fund distributions to the schools. In 2018, Brookside Gives Back distributed $12,000 for tuition assistance. The fund was created by Christopher A. Anselmo, president at Brookside Tax & Financial Group, LLC, a full-service tax and financial group located in Middleburg Heights, Ohio.
On Tuesday, June 4, Mr. Anselmo met privately with award recipients and their families, followed by a public presentation at Saint Columbkille School. In turn, the schools will make sixteen $1,000 tuition assistance awards to selected students, based on need. A closing school Mass for all students and their families followed the presentation.
"The families of Saint Columbkille School are grateful for Mr. Anselmo's generosity,” says Saint Columbkille School principal, Ms. Renee Cerny. “Quality Catholic education is so important to helping our children become well-rounded individuals, but above this to become Christ to all those they meet. Helping families provide for a Catholic education allows this to be a reality in our world."
Mr. Tom Brownfield, principal at Holy Family School, also sees what this gift has brought to his school community: "Mr. Anselmo's generous donation has helped many of our families over the past two years continue to provide a Catholic education for their children. All of us are grateful at Holy Family Catholic School that Mr. Anselmo is willing to share his gifts with others."
The Brookside Gives Back Fund was established in 2017 by Mr. Anselmo and has grown with funds added through individual donations from clients, friends, and family members, as well as memorial gifts recognizing Mr. Anselmo's father who passed away in 2018. "My Catholic faith and my Catholic education continue to have a major impact on my success as a son, a brother, a husband, a father, and a business owner. I would not be where I am today without my Catholic upbringing and my Catholic education," states Mr. Anselmo, who is an alumnus of John Carroll University.