N.J. school helps struggling single dad

NEW YORK (CNN) -- When an unemployed, single father of six in Newark, New Jersey, was facing eviction from his apartment recently, help came from an unexpected source -- the school one of his children attends.

Administrators of St. Philip's Academy e-mailed its donors and overnight they pledged enough money to pay for not only three months of Tim Randall's back rent and utilities, but also three months forward, providing him with a cushion as he hunts for a job.

"I felt so honored, I mean I started crying, I normally don't cry but you know I was shocked," said Randall, who has struggled to find employment as an information technology helpdesk specialist.

St. Philip's, with students from kindergarten through 8th grade, educates motivated, promising children from disadvantaged communities.

Last fall, Randall's eldest daughter, Latina, was admitted to the school's 6th grade on a full scholarship. Latina, who plans to become a journalist, is thriving at her new school, where she has opportunities -- such as writing for St. Philip's online magazine -- that she didn't have at her East Orange, New Jersey, public elementary school.

"Everyone is treated like brothers and sisters and everyone is treated equally," said Latina of her school.

When Head of School Miguel Brito learned of Randall's predicament, he knew he had to tap St. Philip's Family Support Fund.

"We have a fragile population. Your car breaks down, you can't go to work, you lose your job and all of a sudden what stability you had disappears. So the Family Support Fund is designed to support families in crisis," said Brito. "It's a very appealing idea to our funders."

More than 20 of St. Philip's families have found themselves in crisis recently, as the recession has shrunk the job market. St. Philip's has come through in each case because the school firmly believes children must have a measure of stability at home, otherwise their education is at risk of being wasted.

Parents are required to sign a covenant upon their child's admission to the school, pledging that they will provide a quiet, well-lit place for study, establish a consistent time for homework, and review schoolwork regularly.

"We know that every kid here needs somebody at home that's going to be their advocate and support them in any way possible," said Brito.

St. Philip's, which was founded in 1988, invests heavily in its children, 96% of whom are African-American. More than two-thirds of the students receive financial aid to cover the tuition of about $7,000-per-year.

Corporations and charitable foundations normally provide a hefty chunk of St. Philip's operating budget. But, the financial meltdown has caused a 30% drop in institutional funding.

Fortunately, individual donors from around the country are filling the gap by opening their wallets -- in some cases doubling contributions to uphold their strong commitment to St. Philip's mission: providing the best educational opportunity to children who might otherwise be lost in a far less nurturing environment.

"It's about the children, what is best for the children," said St. Philip's donor and former Board President David Farrand, who is retired after a successful career at Morgan Stanley. "If you don't fix the environment in which the child is trying to learn, then you're going to have a fair amount of resistance. So, the condition of a family is very important."

Donors like Farrand believe they're supporting more than just education at St. Philip's. Their generosity is a commitment to the promise of children like Latina, and a pledge that this recession won't destroy a child's hopes and dreams.