I am honored to serve as co-chair of the CISE 2024 Annual Campaign alongside CISE Board Chair David Williams. The mission of CISE to provide high-quality Catholic education to students in Cincinnati’s inner-city communities is something I am deeply passionate about. I am grateful for the opportunity to support this vital cause.

Our journey with Catholic education began when my wife, Paula, and I chose to send our two sons to St. Xavier High School, despite living in Wyoming, which offers an excellent public school system. This decision remains one of the best we’ve ever made as parents. Our younger son, a 2016 graduate, now thrives in the technology field with a master’s degree in business data analytics. Our older son, a 2014 graduate, completed medical school and is currently a dermatology resident at George Washington University.

Though we are not Catholic, we have come to fully appreciate the profound value of a Catholic values-based education. The principles instilled at St. Xavier played a pivotal role in shaping our sons into the responsible, accomplished, and compassionate men they are today.

When my friends Phil and Dave asked me to get involved with CISE, I was honored to join the effort. My visit to St. Francis Seraph School in Over-the-Rhine was an unforgettable experience that brought me back to my own childhood in Hamilton’s inner-city. The warmth, empathy, and unconditional support from the teachers reminded me of the central role that school and church played in my upbringing. The atmosphere at St. Francis Seraph was powerful and moving, reaffirming my belief in the transformative impact of values-based education.

CISE’s mission to provide high-quality Catholic education to students from inner-city communities is not just admirable—it is essential. The genuine support and positive environment I witnessed at St. Francis Seraph and other CISE schools give these students a real opportunity to succeed, regardless of their background.

I am privileged to be part of this effort and deeply grateful to everyone supporting CISE. Your dedication makes an incredible difference in the lives of these students, and I encourage others to join in this important cause. Thank you for your unwavering commitment to empowering our students and strengthening our community.

Sincerely,

Nate Lampley, Jr.