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.
Bishop Dolan's Support
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.
Bishop Weisenburger's Support
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.
"It is with great enthusiasm that I endorse the work of The Matthew 19:14 Project... I have witnessed 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
"It is because of the support of organizations such as The Matthew 19:14 Project that our Catholic schools are able to serve students with special needs and ensure a successful Catholic school experience for them. Thank you for helping to make a Catholic education in Arizona more accessible and available to all children." - Sheri Dahl, Superintendent, Diocese of Tucson Catholic Schools
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.