Hundreds of Cincinnati Public Schools seniors at risk of not receiving their diplomas on graduation day as a result of unpaid student fees will now be able to go home with their cap, gown and piece of paper confirming they're a high school graduate.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the Pendleton-based Butts Family Foundation raised $55,000 to pay off student fees for Withrow University High School, Hughes STEM High School, Taft High School and Woodward Career Technical High School students, according to Tabatha Anderson, the nonprofit's secretary.
"All the schools now have their money," Anderson said.
Those donations have benefited a combined 277 students at Hughes, Taft and Woodward who were eligible for diplomas but had outstanding student fees, she said. She added Withrow has declined to share the number of students enrolled there who are benefiting from the donations.
The Enquirer reached out to Cincinnati Public Schools requesting that number. On Friday, Enquirer media partner Fox19 reported that as many as 125 Withrow students were unable to pay their fees by the deadline.
Anderson said Withrow only needed $4,583 to pay off the outstanding student fees but because of earmarked donations, the school received a total of $8,890.
Student fees are collected annually by Cincinnati Public Schools, with the money being used to help pay for classroom materials, the district's website states. The fees are based on a family's income and the number of children within that family enrolled at the school district.
While the Butts Family Foundation began collecting money three months ago, Anderson said, the bulk of the funds were raised within the past nine days, largely through hundreds of small, individual donations of $5 to $20.
A last-minute donation from the Joe Burrow Foundation pushed the fundraising effort over the finish line, she said, though she declined to disclose the amount of that donation. The Joe Burrow Foundation has yet to respond to a message from The Enquirer seeking comment.
Anderson said there's been an outpouring of emotion from the students who otherwise might not have received a diploma during their ceremony.
"I'm proud of my city. They stepped up for these kids," she said. "Kids should never have to worry."
Enquirer media partner Fox19 contributed to this report.
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