Founded in 1942, the Catherine McAuley High School in East Flatbush was once a convent whose rooms, over time, were left empty. Today, as a model in-city boarding program, the rooms are full again with young women gaining an "education for life."

Thanks to a unique partnership with the Boys Hope Girls Hope of New York, the Catherine McAuley High School helps 40 academically capable and motivated at-risk girls meet their full potential and become productive members of society by providing supportive housing with school. 

The school in East Flatbush serves as a haven for girls and their families who are unable to provide a safe and stable home environment due to extended illness, neglect or abuse, extreme poverty or serious family relationship problems.

The boarding program at Catherine McAuley allows the girls to live on campus and fully commit to a rigorous academic curriculum and participate in a variety of extracurricular and community service activities. At the conclusion of its inaugural year in 2008 the first eight seniors graduated and all eight matriculated at college.

Brooklyn Community Foundation proudly supports programs like Catherine McAuley so that Brooklyn's young people can learn, grow and achieve.