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  Hasting Catholic Education Foundation initially started as an endowment fund established in 1985. The purpose of the endowment fund was to create a fund that would help support the operating expenses of Hastings Parochial School. 
  
  The initial contribution was made by a family who felt their son received excellent attention from all the teachers after his difficult injuries of being burned. They said, "the teachers went out of their way to make sure he continued to learn at his pace because of the psychological disadvantages that burn victims go through after such an ordeal."  Because of their experiences with their son, they thought a strong Catholic education needed to be continued in Hastings for as long as possible. 
  
  The goal with the endowment fund was to use earnings (interest income, dividend income, etc.) for support of the school and the principal balance of the account was not to be touched. In later years, tuition subsidy was a more specific use of the earnings. As time went on, $35,000 was the amount that went from the endowment fund to, once again, funding the general operating expenses of the school. 
  
  The Spring Fling was started by three families in 1991 to assist in growing the principal balance of the endowment fund. The proceeds of the Spring Fling were invested directly to the endowment fund. Individuals were also encouraged to make contributions to the endowment fund.
  
  A committee was developed which allowed teachers and staff to submit grant applications for specific projects they would like to use for teaching in their classrooms. Once again, only earnings were used.
  
  In July of 2018, the endowment fund was changed to a Foundation and a Board of Directors was developed. The Board of Directors concurred that this was the best way to protect the funds raised at the annual Spring Fling, any other donations or fundraisers, and the principal in the endowment fund. Hastings Catholic Education Foundation now has a value of approximately $1,000,000. All of the earnings are used to support Catholic education in the Hastings, MN area.