Most people aren’t thinking about their taxes in September. But if Paul Mulligan has his way, that will soon change.

Mulligan, executive director of the Catholic Tuition Organization for the Diocese of Phoenix, said the rules governing when people can redirect their taxes to the CTODP have changed. Taxpayers, who once had to redirect by Dec. 31 now have until April 15 to help more families afford a Catholic education.

“We’re very excited about that new deadline,” Mulligan said. “Potential donors can now determine their actual tax liability before writing their check to CTODP.”

Pledges due

From now until Sept. 30, Mulligan is hoping those who have never given to the CTODP before will pledge their support. If they pay or owe any 2010 Arizona income tax, can redirect some or all of those funds to help low-income students get a Catholic education.

It’s all part of “Commit to Catholic Education,” a 40-day campaign to increase awareness of how easily people can help children obtain a Catholic education by redirecting their tax dollars.

The redirected tax dollars are used by the CTODP to create scholarships for qualified families who cannot afford a Catholic education for their children.

Making the pledge is a matter of going to www.MakeYourPledge.org and filling out a short form. The entire process takes just a couple minutes, but the benefits last a lifetime, according to parents of students who are currently receiving help from for their Catholic school tuition.

Lisa Moreland is one such parent. Her son Dustin attended a public school for the first half of his freshman year, but Lisa said he begged to attend a Catholic school instead.

She wondered how they would afford the tuition, but told her son they would find a way somehow.

“There’s no way Dustin would be able to go to Seton if we didn’t have that,” Lisa said. “My son would not be where he is right now without Seton and without CTODP he would not be at Seton.”

Dustin will graduate this spring and hopes to study pre-med and become a surgeon. Lisa is convinced the prayerful, Catholic environment at Seton had a lot to do with that.

“It gave him the ability to reach for the stars,” she said. “I’ve watched my son transform into a wonderful human being.”

Robert Salas has three daughters who attend Most Holy Trinity Catholic School thanks to CTODP scholarships. He said that without financial assistance, it would be impossible for his girls to attend.

“Without CTODP funding, there’d be no way we could do it,” Salas said. He said the school’s tight-knit community and close collaboration between faculty and parents has made a big difference for his children.

“I would tell people to contribute to the CTODP because first of all, it’s dollars you pay to the state anyway,” Salas said. “And, you get a deduction.”

Mulligan said Catholic education has a positive impact on families, parishes and society.

“We graduate our students and save the state millions of dollars in education costs,” Mulligan said. “And with a tax credit, it costs nothing to give.”