Gene Grawe Fund raises almost $4 million in 20 years since inception, expands to support preschoolers

QUINCY — Everyone needs to spend money on food, gas, prescriptions and restaurants. The Gene Grawe Fund allows people to turn those everyday purchases into tuition money for Catholic students with no extra cost to themselves.

The Gene Grawe Fund will assist 433 families next year with a total of $325,270.27 contributed to Quincy Catholic school tuition for the 2025-26 school year.

During the program’s 20-year existence, it has given $3,983,367.55 to families of students in Quincy’s Catholic schools. The program has expanded this year to support preschool tuition as well, so parents who have children attending preschool in the 2026-27 year can start saving now.

The program sells gift cards — available from in-office sales at St. Peter Church, online sales at www.RaiseRight.com or by using the RaiseRight app — from businesses that give a percentage of the sales back to the program. It was created in Gene Grawe’s honor by his daughter, JoAnn Witte. She began the program to honor her father’s love of helping others and his dedication to the Catholic education system.

“He raised the 11 of his kids in the Catholic school system,” Witte said. “My dad was just a great example to me, and I’m just proud and honored to be carrying on his legacy.”

Witte is the backbone of the program, working throughout the year to assist families reduce their tuition.

“I just want Catholic education to be available for anybody who wants it. There should not be a reason at all, money-wise, for people not to be able to afford it,” she said. “If we want Catholic schools in the future, we’re going to have to continue to raise Catholics.”

Amber Haistings, the mother of a family who participates in the program, said she planned to send her daughters to public school before falling in love with their preschool experience at Blessed Sacrament.

“This made a big difference … the financial help of it,” she said.

The Haistings family has leaned into the program, buying almost everything with gift cards and encouraging their family and friends to do the same.

“It’s kind of become a habit for us,” Haistings said. “You almost feel guilty when you can’t use that gift card.”

Volunteers completely staff the program, including Marty Marshall, who has been working with the Gene Grawe Fund for around 10 years. She believes in the academic opportunities within a Catholic school system.

“It’s a great school system with more individualized instruction,” she said.

Marshall made sure to stress Witte’s dedication to the program — yet Witte deflected credit.

“I really believe God just put it on my heart to do it,” she said. “I don’t really want to take credit for it, because He just, God just continues to bless this program.”

For more information, contact Witte at info@genegrawefund.org or call the office at 217-214-0169.

Annie C. Reller is a Seattle native and a recent Stanford graduate serving as an intern for Muddy River News this spring.