Giving Back - Jodi Reif Kasper ‘76

giving BACK

It was the spring of 1975. Providence High School had just announced the need to raise the tuition for the coming school year to $1,000, and as low as that sounds, it was a lot of money for my parents. My sister had learning differences and needed to be in a private school. I loved Providence, but I did not “need” Providence in the same way. My father had lost his job and was in the process of finding a new position. My father was driving me to school when I said, “Dad, I understand if I need to leave Providence. It is okay.” My Dad grabbed my hand and said that I would not have to leave Providence. That was a promise. My father’s word was his bond. I stayed and graduated in 1976. At the 2017 Providence Gala, Jordan Tibbs ‘17, a recent graduate, shared a similar story. Like me, he had been very unhappy in middle school. Even so, by his freshman year at Providence, he believed he had finally found a place where he belonged. Then his mother became ill and it seemed like he would have to leave Providence due to increased financial limitations. Thanks to the generosity of the Providence community, he received enough scholarship money to finance his education through his senior year. Because of the supportive academic community Providence has provided even since I was a student, Jordan was accepted into Catholic University of America, Denison University, Drew University, Drexel University, Goucher College, Hofstra University, Seton Hall University, UC Merced, and counting. Go Pioneers! For the first time since graduating, I recently returned to Providence. I was so pleased to see that the spirit of the school hadn’t changed. As a member of the last all girl graduating class, seeing all the boys was, of course, very different from my experience, but the kindness, respect and friendliness that I experienced all those years ago seemed to be alive and well 40 years later. When I learned that 44% of our current students receive financial assistance, I knew I had to help. As a result, my husband, Dennis Kasper, and I have created the ReifKasper Endowed Scholarship Fund. I want to help ensure that no student has to leave Providence for financial reasons. Providence is a unique and special institution. I’ve always said that sending me to Providence was the best decision my parents ever made. Providence lives out its values which are evident in the faces of the students, faculty and staff. Please think about joining me in ensuring that Providence continues to be able to provide financial aid for those who need it. The minimum amount needed to endow a scholarship is $40,000, but any amount you can give will help a student. Tuition will be $17,000 for the 2017-2018 school year. As the cost of education rises, families don’t just need help, they need your help. I am so very grateful to have the resources to help those families. Maybe you do, too? - Jodi Reif Kasper ‘76