Fertig Christian Trust Foundation – Scholarship Criteria & Mission

Our Five Core Funding Criteria

Faith-Centered Families

Applicants must come from families that actively live out Christian values—demonstrated through a lifestyle of charity, service, and faith. We believe that Christian character is cultivated at home, especially during the formative high school years.
U.S. Citizenship Requirement
Students must either be U.S. citizens or in the final stages of legal naturalization, such as through a green card or qualified DARPA pathway.
Private and Religious School Focus
Our primary support is directed toward students attending private or faith-based high schools. Recipients must maintain at least a B+ academic average to remain eligible. In select cases, we may extend support into college for high-achieving students.
Institutional Review and Oversight
We do not assume that any private or religious school automatically meets our standards. Foundation representatives will conduct annual visits to partner schools to ensure they uphold high academic performance and strong Christian education—including theology, philosophy, and teacher quality. While we prefer Traditional Catholic institutions, we are open to supporting schools affiliated with other mainstream Christian denominations such as Anglican, Orthodox, Baptist, and Lutheran communities.
No Serious Criminal Background
Students must not have a history of serious criminal activity, especially felonies.

A Legacy of Purpose

The Foundation was established by Robert T. Fertig in memory of his wife, Miriam A. Fertig—an inspiring educator who devoted over 47 years to teaching bilingual and Spanish-speaking students. Miriam believed deeply in the power of Christian education, especially among underserved Hispanic/Latino youth. Approximately 30% of our scholarships are designated for low-income families from this community.

Initially intended to operate under the Catholic Church’s scholarship wing, the Foundation became an independent 501(c)(3) organization (Florida Not-For-Profit Corp. No. N21000010739, FEI/EIN No. 87-2707086) when specific eligibility criteria could not be accommodated—specifically regarding U.S. citizenship and demographic focus.

We are proud to allocate at least 95% of all donations directly to scholarships, with overhead expenses kept under 5%, thanks to our dedicated team of volunteers. Unlike many charitable organizations, our commitment is to efficiency, transparency, and impact.

To contribute or inquire, please write to:
Fertig Christian Trust Foundation
itrustchrist@gmail.com

As the Foundation grows, we plan to expand our support to other worthy causes, such as universities and pro-life initiatives.

Click here for the latest newsletter

Book Radio Interview

Guardian Advocate – Real Voices for the Vulnerable

The Mission

Across the U.S., over 3.6 million reports of child maltreatment are filed every year—affecting more than 6.6 million children. Tragically, four to seven children die daily from abuse or neglect. Florida, with one of the oldest populations in the country, should lead the nation in eldercare and child protection—but are we living up to that responsibility?

Guardian Advocate is an initiative created to shine a light on the systemic challenges and solutions within child and elder protection services. Led by Robert T. Fertig and informed by real-life casework, this platform offers both insight and advocacy.

A Balanced Perspective

While media often focuses on the worst cases of guardianship abuse, our aim is to provide a balanced view from experienced professionals who have handled dozens of complex guardianship and advocacy cases.

Being a legal guardian—whether for a child or an elderly adult—demands immense responsibility. It involves life-altering decisions and unwavering ethical judgment. Through this initiative, we seek to equip readers, caregivers, and professionals with real knowledge to make compassionate, informed choices.

Who Should Read This?

This newsletter is for:

Parents, grandparents, and family caregivers
Guardians ad Litem, CASA volunteers
Social workers, healthcare professionals, case managers
Attorneys, judges, and law enforcement officers
Clergy and faith-based organizations

The Hard Truths

Nearly five children die every day due to abuse; 77% are under age 4.
Neglect is the leading cause—accounting for over 59% of all abuse cases.
Risk factors include: young or single parents, poverty, lack of childcare, and substance abuse.

Prevention & Reform

We support actionable reforms, including:

Better training for emergency and medical personnel to spot abuse early
Mandated reporting protocols for abuse and neglect
Community awareness campaigns
Crisis nurseries for overwhelmed parents
Intensive home visits for at-risk infants
Parenting education programs (e.g., STEP, P.E.T., Nurturing Program)

A Call for Compassionate Guardianship

Volunteers in state guardianship programs often serve without adequate training or faith-based support, operating in a secular system that restricts open expressions of Christian values. Yet, they persist—fueled by love for their neighbors and the conviction to protect those who cannot speak for themselves.

This initiative seeks to empower these unsung heroes and push for improvements nationwide—not just in Florida, but across the U.S., where many state-run systems fall short.

If you have children, grandchildren, elderly parents, or serve in the field of guardianship, this work is for you.

“Everyone wants to be your sun, but not me. I want to be your moon—to light your darkest moments when your sun is not around.”

To access the latest Guardian Advocate newsletter or schedule a book radio interview, please contact us through the Fertig Christian Trust Foundation.