News

Four Sons

Michael and Anna Maria Grahn are the proud parents of four sons; Andrew who is a Junior at St. Mary’s Catholic High School, Mathew who is in 8th Grade, and twins, Nicholas and Ryan, who are in 5th Grade at St. Louis the King Catholic School. They understand and truly appreciate the incredible opportunity the Catholic Tuition Organization of the Diocese of Phoenix (CTODP) provides through its scholarships.  “Without CTODP and the private school tax credit, I don’t think we’d be able to do it.  I don’t think I could send the boys to such good schools if we didn’t have help,” said Mrs. Grahn.  The Grahn’s enrolled Andrew at St. Louis the King when he was in first grade.  He now plays baseball for St. Mary’s and is planning to enroll at Arizona State University to pursue a degree in Business Management.  Matthew won First Place in the 7th Grade Science Fair last year and currently plays flag football for the school.  He is now trying to decide which of the Catholic high schools he will attend next year.  Nicholas, who won First Place in the National Handwriting Contest in 2000, and his brother Ryan are involved in Boy Scouts and also play flag football for St. Louis the King.  When asked why she and her husband, a Sales Consultant with Power Chevrolet, believe Catholic education is worth the sacrifices they have to make, Mrs. Grahn said, “We live in a great school district, but choose to send our sons to Catholic school because of the religious education they receive, not just once a day or once a week, but throughout every day.”  As was the case for many families who receive tuition assistance from CTODP, lower than anticipated contributions and an ever increasing need for assistance resulted in the Grahn's receiving significantly less assistance this year.  Mrs. Grahn said she is grateful to both schools for working with her family to ensure finances do not stand in the way of her sons continuing their Catholic education.