CFNA’s Adopt a Student program has always been a partnership between CFNA and other organizations and individuals. The Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis was the first partner, along with the initial schools that scholars attended, and Concordia Kirkwood. Since 2007, we have added a substantial number of individual donors who contribute annually. In addition, other churches and, occasionally, Lutheran schools in the metropolitan area have made a commitment. For example, this year Zion Lutheran School in Harvester has made CFNA and the scholarship program their primary service focus.

In addition, an inadvertent partner in enabling new American scholars to attend Lutheran elementary schools is the Today and Tomorrow Educational Foundation, a Catholic foundation whose purpose is supporting urban children who attend city parochial schools. CFNA supplements the scholarship grants provided by Today and Tomorrow so that all new American students receive the same level of support. For the 2023-24 school year, Today and Tomorrow is supporting 14 new American students at Word of Life, and CFNA is initially supplementing the awards for 9 of those students.

Thirteen elementary students are supported by CFNA this year; they are attending Word of Life, Christ Community, Salem Affton, and Immanuel Olivette. Fifteen high school students are attending Lutheran North (3) and Lutheran South (12). Most of those students have been identified by the high schools, although several were supported at Word of Life by either Today and Tomorrow or CFNA scholarships. Each year, the ethnic diversity of these students has increased, with more Nepalese students in particular.

Priscilla, a parent from Sierra Leone and a member of Timothy, says: “I really appreciated that CFNA supported first Joseph and now James with scholarships. Especially when my husband was sick and then died, that support made a big difference for our family. Without the scholarship our son would not be attending Lutheran South and our older son would not have had such a good start for his college career.”

Our individual donors are critical partners in the Adopt a Student ministry. As we increase the number of students we support, especially at the high school level, we need more donors to make it possible to say “yes” when a family requests a CFNA scholarship. Please consider donating to this important and impactful ministry.

By Judith Meyer
Facilitator, CFNA Adopt a Student Ministry

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