PAWTUCKET — The Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence is launching a new fundraising campaign to provide more scholarships to families in need.

Following a year in which five Catholic schools were forced to close due to declining enrollments and increased maintenance costs, the Most Rev. Thomas J. Tobin announced the Sponsor a Student program, which encourages individuals and small businesses to help defray the cost of an elementary school tuition, which runs about $4,500 a year.

The goal is to put a human face to the Anchor of Hope fundraising campaign, which was launched in 2001. On average, the diocese raises $1.6 million in tuition assistance each year and the scholarships are made available through the Anchor of Hope Fund and other endowments. Tuition ranges between $3,500 and $7,500 at the elementary level.

On Tuesday, Victoria Almeida, a partner at Adler, Pollock and Sheehan, and former Lt. Gov. Bernard Jackvony, presented two checks, each worth $4,500, to show their support for the new campaign. The checks also included donations from employees at their respective law firms. Jackvony works for Pannone, Lopes, Devereaux & West.

Bishop Tobin, who spoke at Tuesday’s news conference at St. Teresa School, said the fundraising campaign is part of a larger effort to recruit more Catholics by reaching out to former members of the church, as well as those who have no church affiliation.

“Catholic education continues to be a challenge because of enrollment and cost,” he told the gathering of Catholic educators. “This is why this program is so important. We can’t meet every need. But we can really make a difference.”

Bishop Tobin made a personal donation but the amount was not disclosed by the diocese.

Samuel Ragosta, assistant director of development for Catholic education, said principals hear agonizing stories from parents who can no longer afford Catholic school tuition because they have lost their jobs or suffered a debilitating illness.

“We want to put a face behind the Anchor of Hope campaign,” Ragosta said.

Jackvony said he will always be grateful for the years he attended Catholic schools, adding that 99 percent of the students attending Catholic schools graduate from high school and nearly all pursue higher education.

“Hope is one of the smallest words,” he said, “but it is the basis of faith. We are often the targets of criticism, but we deliver a much better product than the public sector.”

Almeida said she never had a choice but to attend Catholic schools.

“Faith without good works is empty,” she said. “I want everyone to know that there is a table of plenty set for all of the students in this diocese.”

Perhaps the most telling argument on behalf of the new campaign came from Junishia Fofana, an eighth grader at St. Teresa and the daughter of Liberian emigrants.

“My parents want me to have a superior education,” she told the crowd. “Without your help, I wouldn’t be able to graduate from St. Teresa. I want to be an electrical engineer. I am thankful for the assistance I’ve been receiving.”

The Anchor of Hope has set a target of $350,000 for the 2009-2010 year. Approximately 14,800 students are enrolled in the diocese’s 37 elementary schools and 9 high schools.

lborg@projo.com