By Crystal Herrera
South Philly Review
Families recently enjoyed a joyful day of sunshine, food and ice skating at the Independence Blue Cross River Rink, 101 S. Columbus Blvd., where Children’s Scholarship Fund Philadelphia awarded scholarships to help fund their children’s private education.
The Dec. 8 event brought exciting news to many parents.
“I was overwhelmed with emotion,” said Kenya Epps, upon learning that her 4-year-old daughter, Ladybug, had received a scholarship to attend Jubilee School, in West Philadelphia.
Ladybug is excited to start kindergarten at Jubilee next year.
“This experience will take her so far, and she is so deserving of it,” Epps said.
CSFP provides need-based scholarships through a lottery system to help families cover tuition for kindergarten through eighth grade, supporting up to three children per household.
With over 150 partner schools in the Philadelphia area, parents can select the best fit for their children’s needs.
Crystal Best, a public school teacher, credits her daughter Cydney’s success to the private education she received through a CSFP scholarship.
Cydney was awarded the scholarship in preschool and remained on it through eighth grade at DePaul Catholic School, in Germantown.
“It’s no surprise that she’s thriving in high school,” Best said.
Cydney said her private education not only prepared her academically but positioned her to apply for competitive high schools, ultimately earning a full scholarship to Little Flower Catholic High School.
Now a freshman, she is excelling academically and exploring a future in engineering.
“I feel privileged in my education,” Cydney shared, expressing gratitude for the opportunities and community her private schooling provided.
For many families, CSFP scholarships alleviate educational costs, allowing them to focus on other priorities.
Destiny Morgan, a teacher at St. Rose of Lima in Overbrook and mother of two, called the scholarship a blessing during a difficult time.
“I just finished school, and it’s a relief not to worry about funding their education while paying off student loans,” Morgan said.
Epps, a single mother, was determined to send Ladybug to private school, regardless of the cost.
“As a parent, you’re obligated to provide your children with the best, and that comes with sacrifice,” she said.
The scholarship eased some of the financial pressure, helping her make that decision a reality.
The Children’s Scholarship Fund Philadelphia works to provide families with school choice, regardless of income.
President and CEO Keisha Jordan emphasized the organization’s commitment to “leveling the playing field” by offering educational opportunities to families looking to end cycles of poverty.
“We’re breaking down financial barriers that might exist to families achieving their dreams for their children,” Jordan said.
CSFP awarded its first 1,200 scholarships in 2001, and now gets about 6,500 applications annually.
Under Jordan’s leadership, the organization has expanded scholarships through eighth grade, eliminated the reapplication process, increased aid amounts and raised income thresholds to serve more families.
To further its reach, CSFP has launched the Breaking Barriers campaign, aiming to raise $100 million to increase scholarship awards.
“I want to end this campaign knowing we’ve served more students and raised the funds needed to make it happen,” Jordan said.
Epps described scholarships like CSFP as “extremely necessary for families,” saying they lay the foundation for children to become “fruitful and successful contributors to society.”
She noted that her older daughter, Kaiya, now 26, also benefited from CSFP, and she is confident Ladybug will thrive with similar support.
The joy continued at CSFP’s annual Lottery Day event on Dec. 12 at Janney Montgomery Scott, a financial advisory firm in Center City, where corporate sponsors and community volunteers made surprise calls to scholarship recipients, delivering good news to hundreds of additional families. ••
