Damien Memorial School will receive $200,000 over the next two years from the Clarence T.C. Ching Foundation to go toward academic scholarships.

The announcement was made during an assembly yesterday in the school's gym. This is the foundation's first grant to Damien.

Damien, an all-boys Catholic school in Kalihi, is known for providing generous tuition assistance to middle-class families, said school president Bernard Ho. About half of the school's 600 or so students receive some sort of financial support.

And with the downturn in the economy, Ho said, the money will go a long way.

"We're hoping that the additional money that we're getting from the Clarence T.C. Ching Foundation will help to offset some of our families' expenses," Ho said.

Recipients of the scholarship will be known as "Clarence T.C. Ching Scholars."

The grant also comes at a time when Damien is increasing its tuition. Damien plans to increase its tuition for middle school students by 2.4 percent to $8,425. Its high school tuition will increase by 4.3 percent to $9,575

"Part of our mission ... has been specifically to help the poor and marginalized as well as the academically challenged or talented. We will make every effort if a boy is not able to finance his own tuition to give him some sort of assistance," Ho said.

The $200,000 grant will be given to the school in $100,000 increments in July 2009 and in July 2010, school spokesman Pat Bigold said.

The $135 million foundation was created by developer Clarence Ching in 1967 and is the state's third-largest foundation. Ching, a 1932 Saint Louis graduate, developed the Kukui Gardens housing complex, which was recently sold for $131 million.