Supporting Students and Families During a Time of Uncertainty

The Ciresi Walburn Foundation recently approved two $20,000 emergency grants to Ascension Catholic Ascension Catholic Academy and Prodeo Academy in response to recent immigration enforcement activity in the Twin Cities that has had a direct and destabilizing impact on students and families in their school communities.

In recent weeks, school leaders across Minnesota have reported growing challenges as families navigate heightened fear, uncertainty, and disruption to daily life. In some cases, students have stopped attending school in person out of concern for their safety. Families have faced challenges to accessing food, interruptions to reliable transportation, and a loss of the sense of stability that schools work hard to provide.

“These are moments when adults and community institutions need to respond with urgency and care,” said Mike Ciresi, Chair of the Foundation’s Board of Directors. “Regardless of the broader policy debates taking place, our responsibility is clear: to ensure that children have access to learning, healthy food, and support during times of upheaval.”

The emergency grants are intended to support immediate, student-centered needs and to help schools maintain continuity and connection during this period. Grant funds will be used to:

Facilitate distance learning for students who are temporarily unable to attend school in person;
Provide food assistance to students and their families; and,
Support alternative transportation options for students who are fearful of riding the school bus.

“Access to education and basic needs should not be interrupted by circumstances beyond a student’s control.”

— Mike Ciresi, Board Chair

These grants reflect a long-standing belief of the Foundation: that schools, families, and communities all play a critical role in supporting the success of children. “Access to education and basic needs should not be interrupted by circumstances beyond a student’s control,” Ciresi said.

Ascension Catholic Academy and Prodeo Academy have campuses serving diverse communities in Minneapolis and Saint Paul, and have demonstrated urgent leadership in responding quickly and thoughtfully to the needs of their students and families. Their efforts underscore the vital role schools play not only as places of learning, but as trusted community institutions.

The Foundation is grateful to the educators, administrators, and staff at both schools for their compassion and commitment to students and families. The Foundation will continue to serve as a partner to schools and organizations prioritizing student well-being and working every day to ensure that children can continue learning in environments that are supportive, stable, and humane.