Maureen M. Adams has been selected as the next president and CEO of Catholic Education Arizona. She started on March 23, 2016.
Adams has proven passion for helping parents afford a Catholic education for their children, said Sally Bell-Sarlitto, chairperson for the tuition organization’s board of directors. She will work closely with families, schools and businesses to expand the organization’s ability to make Catholic schools available, affordable and accessible to all children who have a desire to attend.
“Catholic Education Arizona is the vehicle through which lives are formed and changed forever,” Adams said. “By directing your Arizona State Tax dollars to Catholic education, thousands of children will have the opportunity to develop intellectual self-reliance and a heart for service; attributes for which our Catholic schools are recognized. I am honored and grateful for the opportunity to participate in funding an essential and growing need within our community.”
Adams said Catholic schools offer a certain dynamic, which has the potential to develop the best in students. She sees the value of a Catholic education grow with each generation.
Adams, a deep-rooted Catholic and recognized leader in philanthropic circles, will oversee the school tuition organization’s efforts to ensure Catholic education is a choice for families wanting to send their children to one of 37 Catholic schools within the Diocese of Phoenix.
“I am passionate about the tremendous good our schools promote within our neighborhoods and cities,” Adams said. “I very much look forward to partnering with our faith and business communities in supporting an education that cuts through all cultural and economic barriers to elevate the intellectual and spiritual dignity of each child.”
Jeff Mirasola, Catholic Education Search Committee Chair, is confident Adams will continue on the organization’s successes in increasing corporate participation in the tax credit.
“She truly stood out in an outstanding field of candidates,” he said. “The children of this diocese are the fortunate benefactors.”
Catholic Education Arizona is the largest provider of scholarships to low-income families attending private schools. Last year $17.1 million in contributions were made to assist nearly 50 percent of Catholic school students.
Since its inception in 1998, the generosity of local individual and corporate contributors has allowed Catholic Education Arizona to continually increase scholarship funding for Catholic schools, beginning with students of families with the greatest financial need. To date over $140 million in tuition support has been awarded through over 93,000 scholarships to lower-income families with qualified financial need.
