Jennifer L.
Decatur
Jennifer Lopez is a single mom who lives in听Decatur, Illinois听with her three children.听In听2018,听the first year of the Tax Credit Scholarship Program,听Jennifer鈥檚 two oldest children were awarded听full scholarships to attend Holy Family Catholic School, where听they听had previously听received听financial听aid.听In 2019, her third child was eligible for a tax credit scholarship, and all three of her children听have been able to attend听Holy Family听tuition-free over the past two years.听听
鈥淭here is no way I would be able to afford to send my kids to Holy Family without these scholarships,鈥� Jennifer says. 鈥�With this newfound financial freedom,听I was able to go back to school and finish my Associate鈥檚 Degree. I鈥檓 currently pursuing my Bachelor鈥檚 Degree while working full time.鈥�听
Jennifer speaks incredibly highly of Holy Family鈥檚 response to听the COVID-19 pandemic. During the shutdown last March, Holy Family was able to quickly pivot to online learning,听and Jennifer felt听her kids were able to maintain learning standards during that time.听鈥淲e have had teachers come to our house to drop off books, paperwork, whatever the kids might need. They have really gone above and beyond,鈥� says Jennifer.听In the fall, Holy Family听offered听families the option听to听safely听attend classes听in-person or听continue classes remotely. 鈥�I really appreciated听having听the option,听so families can do whatever makes them feel听most听comfortable. But my kids听are听very happy to be back in听class with their friends and teachers.听The public schools in our area just resumed in-person learning a few weeks ago, and I cannot imagine听working,听completing my own school work online, and helping my kids with remote learning for that many months.鈥�听
When asked about the Governor鈥檚 proposed cuts to听the Tax Credit Scholarship Program, Jennifer hopes legislators will vote听to protect the program.听鈥淚 do not know what we would do without these scholarships,鈥� said Jennifer. 鈥淚 fully support funding for public schools, but the听way the system is right now,听they听would not offer the same resources and quality education for my kids.听I hope legislators realize that this program is the only way that hard-working families like mine can send their children to their best-fit school.听I’ll do whatever I can to help the program, and听hope to become a donor myself once I am听financially able.鈥�听