Educate Philly

This year, please join us for our 40th Anniversary Gala on June 4, 2026!

Join us for a meaningful evening celebrating our 40-year legacy of expanding opportunities for students across the city to achieve success after high school. In honor of this milestone anniversary, we’re delighted to be hosting an evening gala event, to honor the impact built over four decades while engaging in a forward-looking conversation about what the future of education demands and what is possible when we act together.

PEF's 40th Anniversary Gala

Enjoy a look back at the 2025 Educate Philly Benefit Luncheon & Master Class

2025 MASTER CLASS & PANELISTS

This year’s Master Class – Con Law 101 – explored the foundation of our constitutional right to free speech, the established limits on that right, and how our students – as well as the administrators at their colleges and universities – can enhance campus life through the preservation and optimal exercise of free speech.

Will Creeley, Legal Director, FIRE (the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression)

Jeffrey Rosen, President and CEO, National Constitution Center

Farah Jimenez, Moderator, President and CEO, PEF

2025 Corporate Partnership Award Recipient

There is one company in Philadelphia that has walked alongside PEF for much of our 40-year history. That company is Pennoni. Chuck Pennoni was a stalwart supporter of our mission and served on the board for many years. Since his tenure, PEF has enjoyed the good fortune of having a continuous sequence of representative from Pennoni on its board, guiding the growth of our Philadelphia Scholars scholarship, expansion of our college advising efforts and the addition of our work in STEM education.

2025 Honorary Co-Chairs

Hon. Ed Rendell, Former Pennsylvania Governor

Dr. Tony Watlington, Superintendent, School District of Philadelphia

2025 Star Student Awardees

The Rising Star Award recognizes the high achievement of high school seniors in our College Access Program (CAP). The Baldadian Shining Star Award, named in honor of Arthur S. Baldadian, Philadelphia Scholars Co-Founder, is given to a college sophomore or junior of outstanding academic success and character.