HARTFORD – The Foundation for the Advancement of Catholic Schools (FACS) has received a gift of $24,000 from Michele and Donald D’Amour, members of the family who own the Big Y Corp.

The gift will be used to provide financial assistance to students in Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Hartford.

The assistance will be given to students in eight elementary schools and four archdiocesan high schools who demonstrate high academic achievement and who have financial need. The award will be called the Michele and Donald D’Amour Scholarship. 

Cynthia Basil Howard, executive director of FACS, said such gifts are vital to the foundation and its mission, which is to provide scholarships to deserving students and to fund special projects in schools in the archdiocese.

FACS has supported students, including those of various faiths, in the archdiocese for almost 30 years.

"We know that our schools provide academic excellence as well as character development. We are so pleased that the D’Amours recognize this and want to help students in our schools have access to this education," said Ms. Howard. "Throughout the foundation’s history, we have been the recipient of gifts from very generous people who understand this reality and the importance of a Catholic school education."

FACS provides approximately $300,000 each year in tuition assistance to hundreds of students in the Catholic elementary and high schools in the archdiocese.

Maureen E. Kerrigan, FACS president, also thanked the D’Amours for enabling the foundation to expand its ability to help.