Making Catholic Education Inclusive for All Learners
At The Matthew 19:14 Project, our mission is simple. We provide Arizona Catholic Schools with resources and support for the success of students with special needs because we believe a Catholic education should be accessible to all children – regardless of their needs or means.
We believe that a family that desires the benefits of a Catholic education for all their children can happen regardless of their child's learning challenges because a Catholic education should be accessible to all children.
Bold Ten-Year Plan
To celebrate its tenth anniversary, The Matthew 19:14 Project (TMP) is embarking on a ten-year strategic plan that includes school-wide, multi-year transformative professional growth and coaching with the goal of creating learning environments where ALL students thrive, including students with disabilities. The participating Diocesan schools will receive customized training and coaching on best practices for educating neurotypical AND neurodivergent learners. Leveraging technology, effective curriculum, brain science, and 21st century learning environments, our Catholic schools can truly become places of belonging for all learners.
Last month, principals were invited to submit a letter of inquiry to join TMP’s three-year partnership opportunity. The response was overwhelming, with numerous schools eager to embark on this transformative journey. Initially, TMP planned to fund one school for Fall 2025. However, thanks to a generous donation, a second Diocesan school will now benefit from this incredible opportunity. As a result of this opportunity, it will not be surprising when the entire school community becomes more vibrant. “This generous support gives us hope that we can accelerate our timeline and expand our reach. But to realize this dream, we are looking for more members of our community to say ‘yes’ to help us fund these school transformations,” said Dr. Lisa Fischer, Founder of TMP.
TMP’s latest initiative distributed over $17,000 to 14 schools through mini-grants for training and equipment. “The grants you've provided will have a significant positive impact on our students, and we couldn't be more grateful. Thank you for your kindness and for believing in what we are doing. We're truly thankful to have you as a partner in this journey," shared Aiyana Arnold, Counselor and Behavior Interventionist at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic school.
The school partnership initiative, with a price tag of around $50,000 of investment over 3 years, aims higher. This initiative will impact every aspect of operations, from curriculum & instruction and admissions practices to behavior systems, mission, and culture. "An inclusive mindset touches every aspect of school life. For this reason, many school leaders find that serving students with disabilities comes with challenges and barriers that are too difficult to navigate,” said Dr. Colleen McCoy-Cejka, founding board member of the Matthew 19:14 Project and national educational consultant. “We can help leaders overcome these barriers and celebrate the gifts that EVERY child brings to their community.”
Visit https://matthew1914project.org to explore TMP’s decade-long impact on Arizona Catholic schools and to make a donation. Together, we can help Catholic schools in Arizona continue their mission to support ALL students!
Our Mission
Supporting Catholic Schools
Our mission is to provide Arizona Catholic schools with the resources and support for the success of students with special needs because a Catholic education should be accessible to all children.
The Gospel and Pope Francis have called for inclusion – and we sincerely believe that if a school doesn’t do its best to participate in inclusive efforts for children with special needs, they are not living up to our Catholic identity. That’s where The Matthew 19:14 Project comes in.
Our Vision
A Catholic School Education For All Children
Matthew 19:14 reads: "Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.'"
Our organization's name comes from our vision. We want to ensure that any family that desires a Catholic education for all of their children can have one.
Our goal is to remove the financial barriers that often face Catholic schools, and provide the much-needed equipment and resources, as well as the teacher training required to ensure every student gets a quality education.
What We Do
Partnering Directly With Catholic Schools In Arizona
To make our vision into a reality, we have partnered with many Arizona Catholic Schools to provide resources, support and information for the success of schools with students with special needs. At The Matthew 19:14 Project, we partner directly with schools to provide them with twice-yearly grants.
Accredited Catholic schools in Arizona can apply for a grant requesting financial support to better serve the school's exceptional learners' needs.
In March 2023, Bishop John Dolan of the Diocese of Phoenix had a meeting with our Founder and President Lisa Fischer and board member Ed Fischer to discuss our mission of inclusion in education and share updates on our goals.
In November 2024, Bishop Edward Weisenburger of the Diocese of Tucson had a meeting with our Founder and President Lisa Fischer and board member Kathy Johnson to discuss our expansion in supporting the Catholic schools and their students with disabilities in the Diocese of Tucson.
"The Matthew 19:14 Project has been doing important work in our community for many years, providing students with disabilities the resources and support they need to succeed academically. Through The Matthew 19:14 Project's programs and services, Catholic schools have been able to support countless students to overcome learning challenges and physical constraints to reach their full academic potential." ~ Rev. John P. Dolan, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix
"It is with great enthusiasm that I endorse the work of The Matthew 19:14 Project in support of our Catholic schools and their work with special needs children. I have witness this organization progress from its infancy back in 2014, supporting schools, teachers, and students with special needs by providing funds for equipment, classroom tools and professional development training opportunities. The partnership between The Matthew 19:14 Project and the Diocese of Phoenix Catholic Schools Office will be a tremendous resource to our schools moving forward as we continue our mission to support families who desire a Catholic education for their children." ~ Domonic Salce, Superintendent, Diocese of Phoenix Catholic Schools Office
Your donation is an investment in a child's academic, emotional and spiritual future
We’re always proud to share our mission and our passion with others. To learn more about what we do, inquire about funding for your school, make a donation or for any other inquiries, please contact The Matthew 19:14 Project.