$100,000 BP GRANT AIDS

                                                KIDS IMPACTED BY 9/11

            The BP Foundation, Inc., an affiliate of the global energy company, has donated $100,000 to the Futures in Education Foundation of the Diocese of Brooklyn to aid families affected by the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.

            The funds will provide tuition assistance for children “impacted by this horrific event” in the school year that begins in September, said Jean O’Shea, Futures’ executive director.

            In a letter to Futures in Education, Patricia D. Wright, the president of the BP Foundation, said the firm’s employees around the world “were touched by the many personal tragedies” that followed Sept. 11.

            “They opened their hearts to make this generous contribution to aid the families of victims,” she said. BP matched the contributions on a three-to-one basis.

            Ms. O’Shea said the day after she received the BP grant, a mother who lost her spouse on Sept. 11 called and asked for tuition aid for her son, a third-grader. Later, a pastor called on behalf of a family with two young children whose father perished at the Twin Towers.  

            “This pointed up the need to continue to raise funds for those whose lives were    changed by the World Trade Center attacks,” she said.

            Ms. O’Shea said grants from the Independence Community, Franciscan Friars and O’Neill Family foundations and contributions from parishioners have sustained the tuition aid program.

            In 2002/2003, 137 families with children attending 54 elementary and high schools in the Diocese were assisted by funds raised by Futures, she said.  Pastors, principals and Catholic Charities officials identified families in which a parent or guardian died or lost employment.

            With the remaining funds and the BP grant, “for which we are so grateful,” Ms. O’Shea said, “we’ll be able to continue to help these kids.”