Higher Values for Youth, a California registered non-profit organization. It receives donations and other funds from beneficiaries to give scholarships for youth who attend Christian/Catholic schools in San Diego, California. Begun in 1998, this year it celebrates 10 years of giving scholarships to future leaders who have moral and religious values.

Initialy starting with just one parish, it was hard to say what the future held for the Higher Values for Youth program. As we approached our fifth year, we realized that in order for the program to grow we would need to challenge ourselves by raising the bar and setting higher goals. It was at that year we open the doors of invatation to all Cathedral Deanery schools and several of the area's parochial high schools.

It has taken some time convincing that higher values for youth truly is a no strings attached program. However, it seems the tentative view of our annual invitation has slowly but surely subsided and we are pleased to see so many schools taking advantage of our offer. Encouraged by the increased level of participation, Higher Values for Youth would like to affirm our commitment to continue to provide support to those schools of the Cathedral Deanery, the parochial high schools who elect to accept our invitation and to any situation we are made aware of where Higher Values for Youth might be able to make a difference.

Of course, Higher Values for Youth is simply a conduit, an agent acting and a half of the students, their families and the parochial schools providing a higher level of education. The real champions of our program are our benevolent supporters who make the annual awards and a dinner possible. These are local business owners and individuals who, without hesitation, have responded to letters and phone calls and have generously backed our effort. Also worth noting is that the greater percentage of our sponsors have no vested tie to any of the schools or individuals to whom higher values for use provides assistance. Our programs existence is surely the direct result of genuine acts of kindness. To each and everyone of you who have played any part in supporting Higher Value is for Youth —THANK YOU!

The decision to pursue parochial education is one that comes with a great level of sacrifice the cost of education is not exempt from the pangs of economic unrest and as virtually self-supporting entities, parochial schools have no choice but to agree to absorb rising costs and somehow find a way to balance these expenses. Ultimately some percentage of the expense does get passed along to those families who are educating their children a parochial school. This is where Higher Values for Youth will continue to place effort, in trying to make sure that there is a resource to Parochial education and as affordable as possible for as many as possible.

To date, approximately $50,000.00 has been awarded to students graduating from either 8th or 12th Grade of a Christian/Catholic school in what is Cathedral Deanery of the Diocese of San Diego. The scholarship awards are given on the recommendation of the faculty and staff of the schools that are in this geographic area.

Teachers of Christian/Catholic Schools have also been honored with gifts and accolades for their giving of their gifts - great gifts of knowledge, faith and values to students, future leaders of our Free Nation.

Funds are generated by an annual dinner and auction each May and spontaneous donations from generous benefactors. Besides scholarships, tuitions have been paid for deserving students who have applied for financial help.

The founders of Higher Values for Youth are Msgr. Roger Lechner, Pastor of Holy Spirit Catholic Church and Mr. James Martinez, San Diego National Bank. We would also like to acknowledge the generous support of the following individuals and firms: