About Us
The CT Foundation for Christian Education is a 501 (c) (3) organization focused on expanding access to high-quality K-12 Christian education in the Greater Austin Area. The cost of a private education is often an insurmountable barrier for many low-income families.
There should be no reason for children with the potential for greatness to continue to fall through the cracks in the current educational system. The CT Foundation wants to break down those barriers and make private, Christian education affordable and available to any child with the desire and drive to succeed.
Established in 2014, the Foundation’s Board of Trustees is intentionally made up of representatives from a number of the participating schools as well as members of the business community with a vested interested in providing opportunities for a high quality Christian education to children from all walks of life.
In general, the foundation is a pass-through organization, taking in gifts from businesses, community foundations and the general public and distributing those funds directly to the participating schools based on established criteria and guidelines that safeguard the monies and ensure that all donated funds are used as intended by the giver and in accordance with IRS guidelines. Major fundraising activities will be carried out each year with the help of the community partners and participating schools.
As its primary focus, the Foundation will award scholarships to K-12 students in need of funding to pursue Biblical Christian Education.
The scholarships will be distributed based on financial need as determined through an unbiased application and independent verification process.
In addition, the Foundation has the authority to endow, grant or otherwise provide financial support to primary and/or secondary charter and private schools specifically providing Biblical Christian Education based on general donations or donor directed giving for specified projects.
Grant funding will be considered based on a list of annual priorities established by the Board, the identified needs of the participating schools and the availability of grant funds. As funds are available, the Board of Trustees will notify the eligible schools of specific grant opportunities, make grant awards and administer the distribution of grant funds. Receiving schools will be required to provide written reports on the use of the grant funds, and may be subject to audit verification that the funds are being used as intended.
Board of Trustees
Barry Samsel – Chair
Co-owner and Manager of Service at Custom Plumbing Services since 1978, Former member of the Redeemer Lutheran School Board, and former Board member at Concordia High School.
Betty Ressel – Secretary
Certified Public Accountant and Educational/Financial Consultant with Ressel & Associates, LLC. Currently a member of Our Savior Lutheran Church and former Concordia High School Board member.
Steve Lindsay – Member
Financial Planner and Insurance Agent with Thrivent Financial in Georgetown. Served on a number of serval boards and committees for his local Lutheran congregations over the years, always with a passion for and commitment to Christian Education.
Dr. Marianne Rader – Member
Dr. Rader is the current Head of Schools for Concordia High School (CHS) in Pflugerville, TX,. She began at CHS in 2006 as a part-time teacher, transitioned into a full-time role in2007, evolving from classroom teacher to Head of Academics, and now Principal. She has her Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction and a Lutheran Teaching Diploma through the LCMS church, and a Doctorate of Education in Curriculum & Instruction. Dr. Rader is passionate about Christian Education and has a deep dedication to academic excellence.