martin marty. >> it's simply they want the best education for their child. trust is the big thing.trust them to affirm the best in the family values. the schools are usually small enough that the teachers get to know everyone. >> reporter: tuition is $7,200, but the school pays more than half of that and must raise more than $1 million a year to do it. at events like this it tries to broaden its donor base by touting holy family as an investment in the community. >> it's safe, it's affordable, it's faith based, and holy family gets results. it's not uncommon at 3:00 to hear sirens instead of school bells in our neighborhood. and the sirens are going to these schools because there are gang fights and gang activities that takes place. >> my name is malik martin and i'm in fourth grade. >> reporter: to reach more affluent people, holy family put its development office 30 miles away, in the prosperous suburbs of chicago's north shore. half its income comes from donors, and that includes more than 30 congregations in the chicago area. >> teachers and tutors help us, and then we can make