Ascend - Catholic Schools Endowment Foundation

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Ascend - Catholic Schools Endowment Foundation

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Tuition Assistance for Catholic School Education

10/20/2026

Meet Nicole Herincks, member of the Board.

Nicole brings a background in Catholic school development, fundraising, marketing, event planning, and community engagement. Before joining St. Pius X School as Manager of Mission and Development, she served in advancement at St. Therese Catholic School and was actively involved at St. Pius as an Auction Co-Chair. As a mom of two daughters, Nicole understands the important role schools play in the lives of children and families. She is passionate about building strong communities, creating meaningful connections between families and supporters, and sharing the stories that make Catholic schools special. Nicole is an alumni of St. Joseph in Vancouver, WA.

10/01/2026

We are launching an Ambassador Board and need your help connecting with members! The Ambassador Board will represent, promote, and advocate for support of Ascend’s mission—to increase access to Catholic education for families across Western Oregon.

We are seeking young adults ages 25–35 from diverse backgrounds, professions, and skill sets who are passionate about our mission and interested in helping expand Ascend’s reach and impact. Catholic school experience is a plus but not required.

If this sounds like a good fit for you or someone you know, please reach out to us at [email protected] for more information.

09/23/2026

Meet Rick Skayhan, member of the Board.

A Massachusetts native and cradle Catholic, Rick leads our Development and Marketing Committee. He attended grade school at St. Raphael's in Santa Barbara, California and junior high and high school at Sacred Heart Academy in Klamath Falls, Oregon. He holds bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Oregon and is CEO of AHP Advisors, a health insurance consulting firm. Married for 35 years to Susan, his children attended St. John Fisher and Jesuit HS. Beyond his commitment to the faith, Rick served as the Director of Officials for the CYO program in metro Portland as well as an OSAA varsity basketball official for two decades. In that time, he encouraged hundreds of Catholic high school students to "pay it forward" to their grade school sports programs as officials and be shining examples of their faith and a commitment to high standards of personal conduct. Rick sees Catholic elementary and secondary education as vitally important to build a strong future of Catholic families and religious vocations.

09/14/2026

Thank you to the and for hosting us on Friday! We are so honored to be nominated at this year's Corporate Philanthropy Awards with PBJ and loved supporting a home build in our Portland community.

09/08/2026

"Looking back now, I truly believe that attending St. Matthew Catholic School was one of the best decisions my parents could have made for me and my siblings. The faith-filled environment at St. Matthew has had a lasting impact on my life."
- St. Matthew student, Class of 2026

Have you seen our Summer magazine? Read this story and others celebrating the impact of Catholic education on the home page of our website. Link in bio.

08/31/2026

Q: How is financial need verified?
A: Families apply for tuition assistance through FACTS, a third-party financial aid assessment service used by all Archdiocesan Catholic schools. In addition to the FACTS assessment, Ascend works closely with school leaders to better understand each family's unique circumstances, particularly when financial challenges may not be fully reflected in the application.

Questions? Email [email protected]

08/20/2026

"Through prayer, meaningful service, and a supportive faith community, our students learn that faith is not simply something they study, it is something they live." - Cathedral School

Our Summer Magazine is out now! Read this story and others celebrating the impact of Catholic education on the home page of our website.

08/16/2026

Each month, we're highlighting a virtue that inspires students, educators, families, and our community to grow in character and faith.

Inclusivity is welcoming each person with dignity, recognizing their unique gifts, and creating a community where everyone has the opportunity to belong and thrive. At Ascend, inclusivity means helping make Catholic education more accessible to families across Western Oregon.

08/10/2026

Meet Sara Follen Salvi, retired teacher and member of the Ascend Board. Sara is a graduate of St. Thomas More Catholic School and St. Mary's Academy. Sara and her husband were proud to have their three children attend St. John Fisher School and later graduate from Portland Catholic high schools. She participated actively as a volunteer at SJF grade school, from working on auctions to coaching CYO Sports Oregon and SW Washington basketball teams. In her last 25 years in education, she returned to teach at her alma mater, St. Mary’s. Sara believes in the great importance of helping families access the important spiritual and educational rewards of a Catholic education for their children.

08/05/2026

School Spotlight: O'Hara Catholic School (Eugene, OR)

We're proud to partner with in helping more students access a Catholic education in communities across Western Oregon.

Address

2838 E Burnside Street
Portland, OR
97214

Telephone

+15032338318

Website

https://ascend-cseforegon.org/

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