Fundraising to maintain the viability of St. Peter Claver Catholic School, a private urban facility located just west of Ybor City, has been on the upswing in recent months. Last fall, the school, the oldest African-American school in the five-county Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg, received a $30,000 contribution that was announced at a fundraiser in South Tampa.
And now thanks to the family of former Florida state Senate President Louis de la Parte, another $80,000 donation has come the school's way.
The de la Parte family and school officials say the funds are offered as a challenge to the community to match that same amount through this April.
St. Peter Claver instructs students from pre-school up through the eighth grade,
This article appears in Feb 23-29, 2012.