Children’s Scholarship Fund Philadelphia, a K-8th grade scholarship program, commemorated its 25th anniversary with Scholarship Stories: 25 Years of Changing Lives at the Fairmount Park Horticulture Center on Oct. 15. More than 220 supporters, school partners, families, alumni and community leaders gathered to commemorate a quarter century of expanding educational opportunities for Philadelphia students. The evening began with a VIP cocktail hour sponsored by Philadelphia Insurance Companies and featured alumni stories, special awards, a student performance, interactive art experiences and the unveiling of CSFP’s new long-term impact study.
“For 25 years, CSFP has helped more than 30,000 Philadelphia students access the educational environment that best meets their needs,” said Keisha Jordan, president and CEO of Children’s Scholarship Fund Philadelphia. “This milestone gives us an opportunity to celebrate the students, families, schools and supporters who have made our work possible and to demonstrate the lasting impact that educational choice has had on generations of Philadelphia students.”
City Councilman Anthony Phillips presented a citation honoring the organization’s milestone anniversary and impact on students in Philadelphia.
U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans received the Education Changemaker Award in recognition of his longstanding dedication to expanding educational opportunities and advocating for students across Philadelphia.
“I’m honored to receive the Education Changemaker Award from CSFP, which has done so much to help Philadelphia children during its 25 years of service in our city,” Evans said. “They understand that every child should be able to access a good education regardless of their family income or ZIP code.”
Philadelphia Insurance Companies received the CSFP Champion Award for its partnership and ongoing support of CSFP’s mission to ensure that more families can access schools that meet their children’s educational needs. Since 2021, more than 2,700 scholarships have been awarded from PHLY’s financial support. PHLY is CSFP’s largest corporate donor and the Visionary Sponsor of the 25th anniversary celebration.
“All of us at PHLY are so proud to be recognized as a CSFP Champion. We’re also proud to share that PHLY has pledged a $10 million commitment to CSFP’s Breaking Barriers campaign. We make that commitment because we believe in this mission. We believe in the results. We believe in the leadership of this organization,” said John Glomb, president and CEO of Philadelphia Insurance Companies. “What I appreciate most about CSFP is the very practical, very powerful difference it makes for Philadelphia families. Scholarships give parents and caregivers the ability to choose a school that best meets their child’s needs. That choice can change the course of a child’s education and, in many cases, the trajectory of an individual’s life.”
As the event’s Legacy Anniversary Sponsor, BLBB Charitable played a key role in supporting both the anniversary celebration and the organization’s long-term impact research.
“BLBB Charitable, the giving arm of BLBB Advisors, believes strongly in CSFP’s mission of empowering families with financial access to quality education of their choice,” said
Nicole Tell, executive director of BLBB Charitable. “Recently we supported CSFP’s long-term impact study, because in addition to program support, it is important to support a nonprofits’ capacity to learn, improve and grow.”
Throughout the evening, attendees also heard from three CSFP alumni who shared their stories. Speakers included Cydney Booker, a student leader and aspiring engineer at Little Flower; Ryan Frank, an investment research analyst at Fulton Bank, who has remained actively engaged with the CSFP community; and Kamesha Callands, Manager of External Affairs at Community College of Philadelphia and CSFP board member. The celebration also showcased silent auction featuring 25 works of art created by students from Independence Mission Schools and Our Mother of Consolation Parish School as part of the Fresh Perspectives: Student Art Showcase. ••
