Role of the USCAF

As many of our alumni are aware, St. Columba’s School is in need of funds to balance its budget and continue to invest in the school’s future. Ever increasing costs, especially salaries linked currently with the Government of India's seventh Pay Commission recommended pay scales, aging infrastructure, retired teachers and staff, economically weaker students, many of whom have lost parents due to COVID, etc. continue to require funding from external sources. Over the past several years, the Old Columban Trust (OCT), comprised mainly of our alumni in India, have stepped in to help. With over 50 years of alumni in in the US, those of us based in the US have participated in a limited fashion – at best. The USCAF is our opportunity to bolster the efforts of the OCT, and give back to the school that most of us can certainly attribute some portion of our success to.

The funds collected by the USCAF go towards the USCAF endowment fund which supports scholarships, funds infrastructure improvements, assists current and former faculty, and even funds food programs for the students. The USCAF does not specify where exactly the funds may be used, but may indicate where the funds may not be used. Otherwise, the utilization of funds through the school’s budget is left to the discretion of the school’s Principal and administration, with input from the OCT, which works closely with the school’s administration.