Who We Are

The Carmel Connection Foundation (CCF) supports the present and future students of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School in Asbury Park, NJ.

We are a non-profit corporation established to support the financial needs of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School. Our main objective is funding a multi-million dollar endowment to support both our inner-city and immigrant youth for many years to come.

Our brand story:

There is a big heart within the walls of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School. The love present there to help all students in many ways is something to be admired. This loving and caring does not stop with the school, the foundation exists for the same reasons…to help the students.

Just like Mt. Carmel School, the Carmel Connection Foundation lends a hand to help lift up the school and its students. Our logo is two lending hands—the school and the foundation—coming together with our benefactors to form a heart graphic. The helping hands together now form our giving heart.

Where your donation helps.

Every family pays tuition, however, the cost of education for a child at Mt. Carmel is $5,000.00 a year. Many families making $31,000.00 or less per year cannot possibly afford the full tuition, especially if they have more than one child enrolled. Your donation allows families to continue to educate their children at Mt. Carmel School.

Technology and Stem education among other initiatives often exceed the curriculum budget at Mt. Carmel. Your donation allows the School to update the needed equipment and computer programming to keep abreast of 21st century learning.

The current school building was built in 1963 after the school grew out of the original building on Bangs Ave. The cost to keep the building clean, up-to-date, and operating efficiently continues to rise which puts an additional strain on the school budget.

Mt. Carmel provides an in-depth after school program for students from Kindergarten through grade 8. The students are provided snack, homework help and numerous options for enrichment classes. In Fall of 2019 (pre-covid) the students were offered 51 classes for enrichment.

About Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Student Success Stories

Today, OLMC School continues to serve 175 students. The number of families that live below the poverty level in Asbury Park (28.6%) is more than triple the national average (9.4%). The average family income of $34,000 for an OLMC family falls well below the median household income of $55,000 for the area. 93% of the OLMC students qualify for free breakfast and lunch under the federal lunch program guidelines.

We believe that our students will become engaged Christians and conscientious citizens of our world- by being socially minded, independent thinkers and followers of Jesus who recognize their responsibility in bringing about an equitable future for all.

OLMC has given an excellent, whole-person, Catholic education to thousands of inner-city and immigrant children since 1923.  Without OLMC, these underprivileged youth would have been unlikely to achieve much career success. 

After a great start at OLMC, these children are among the best educated and best prepared for high school and beyond. Most graduates are highly ranked and continue their education at the top high schools in the area, and later at many of the best colleges in the country, leading ultimately toward exciting and fulfilling careers.  Here are a few examples:

• Jeter R. (2025) – enrolled in the SEEDS Program and was awarded a full scholarship for tuition, room, board and travel expenses to the Webb School in Claremont, CA

• Elian V. (2023) – OLMCS Valedictorian is attending Christian Brother’s Academy and received the Lasalle Academic Award with the 2nd highest GPA in the Freshman Class

• Sheila R (2021) – OLMCS Valedictorian completed her high school scholarship to Trinity Hall and has now received a full scholarship to Stanford University

• Paul D. (2018) - graduated Christian Brothers Academy and is now attending the Coast Guard Academy 

• Kevin C. (2016) - graduated Christian Brothers Academy & Drexel University studying Mechanical Engineering

• Armelle D. (2013) - attended St. Rose high school and Georgetown University with a Bachelor's and Master's in Biology, and is planning to be a future Physician

These and many other students would likely have never been able to advance their lives much beyond the poverty level without the strong, whole person education they received at Our Lady of Mount Carmel school.  And the multiplier effect this has on them and their original and future families is life-changing.

OLMC’s Mission Statement

We walk by faith.
We learn without end.
We care for and treasure all.
We are the family of God.

CCF Board of Trustees

Timothy Andree Sr.  -  President

Sr. Jude Catherine Boyce, SSJ  -  Treasurer

Laureen Andree -  Secretary

Peter Abitanto

Tom Arnone

Brother Frank Byrne, CFC

Paul McEvily

Fr. Stephen Michael, SVD

Katie O’Meara

Gail Slevin

Fr. Miguel Virella, SVD