In the Media
Mayor Cherelle Parker Remarks at Educate Philly Benefit
Philadelphia, June 18, 2024
It was an honor to host Mayor Cherelle Parker at the 2024 Educate Philly Benefit Luncheon and Master Class at the Franklin Institute last Tuesday, June 18. The Mayor helped kick off the event by addressing attendees and her gracious remarks served to uplift the mission and affirm the work of the Philadelphia Education Fund.
We were also delighted to have Councilmember Isaiah Thomas join at the podium and share his own reflections on the important and transformative programs, services and initiatives the Ed Fund provides to young people in Philadelphia.
The event drew over 150 guests to celebrate the achievements of student scholars, honor PEF’s long-time corporate partner, PECO, showcase PECO’s STEM Teaching Fellows program, dialogue around the future of energy, and recognize the sponsors and supporters who make PEF’s work possible. Thank you to everyone who had a part in the success of the 2024 Educate Philly Benefit – including exceeding our fundraising goal!
Check out these media clips from FOX29 and 6ABC covering last week’s event.
FAFSA errors endanger Philadelphia students’ state financial aid
Carly Sitrin of Chalkbeat, April 10, 2024
[excerpt from full article] Madeline Birkner, senior manager of postsecondary persistence at the Philadelphia Education Fund, an education nonprofit, said she’s trying to remain positive with students to keep them optimistic.
Birkner said the most glaring problem this year is “this feeling of a lack of urgency” from Philly seniors, “because the deadlines have been so messy, because the messaging isn’t consistent, or sometimes it’s not accurate.”
Students are told to “just fill out your FAFSA” she said, but then “they actually can’t in some cases.”
“Hearing how important FAFSA is, that it’s the first step of college, but then it actually isn’t functioning the way you’re being told it should, it undermines the sense that this is worth doing,” Birkner said.
Birkner also said Philly schools and organizations like hers have had a hard time scheduling larger “FAFSA completion” events because they’re not sure students will actually be able to complete the FAFSA onsite.
Kelsey Smith, a college access coordinator from the Philadelphia Education Fund stationed at Furness High School who worked with Tellez-Torres on his application, said even when students do everything right and have all of their documents prepared ahead of time, it can take five or six counseling sessions to submit a student’s FAFSA.
And with Philly’s chronic absenteeism challenges, Smith said she can’t guarantee every student will stick through those multiple sessions.
Despite the messy rollout, Birkner and Smith said the Better FAFSA may actually be better one day. Just not today.
“I’m really optimistic that in the future, this will matter,” Birkner said. “All these changes, these growing pains, will actually matter for the most disadvantaged students.”
As Gov. Shapiro, state lawmakers take up Pa. school funding, advocates consider what happens next
Philadelphia (KYW Newsradio) January 18, 2024
After a landmark court ruling and recommendations from a state panel, the issue of Pennsylvania school funding is now in the hands of the governor and legislature. Will it be politics as usual? Advocates considered that question Thursday morning. A groundbreaking Commonwealth Court ruling last year said Pennsylvania’s school funding system was unconstitutional, but left it to the governor and lawmakers to craft a remedy. On Thursday, the Philadelphia Education Fund examined the issue and what happens next. Pennsylvania’s Basic Education Funding Commission last week recommended the state spend more than $5 billion more over the next seven years to even out the burden on poor districts.
“Although the report right now is a great piece of paper, we want to implement it,” noted Deborah Gordon Klehr, executive director of the Education Law Center. But as Democratic state Rep. Jared Solomon asked, “The question is will we in the legislature actually move?” Solomon said the reality in Harrisburg is that lawmakers don’t discuss across party lines, and it’s the caucus leaders who negotiate with the governor. “Republicans and Democrats go to different dinners,” he said. “They don’t socialize with one another. We literally have separate printers on the House floor.”
Public Interest Law Center attorney Michael Churchill predicted a school funding deal would include the governor’s voucher plan left out of last year’s budget deal. “It would be very surprising if that’s not part of the negotiations that’s going on over the springtime.” The Law Center opposes the voucher plan, which it believes would not address the court’s decision in the school funding case. Gov. Josh Shapiro will deliver his budget proposal to the General Assembly on Feb. 6, one day before the first anniversary of the court ruling.
The Source w/ Andrea Lawful-Sanders Interviews PEF’s Farah Jimenez
Philadelphia (WURD) December 4, 2023
The Philadelphia Education Fund’s President & CEO, Farah Jimenez, talked with Andrea Lawful-Sanders from WURD’s The Source about PEF’s college access and success programs. They discussed the city’s low educational attainment rates, solutions for creating educational pathways out of poverty, and why cultivating “home grown talent” is crucial for industry in Philadelphia.
Farah details the range of PEF’s programs and initiatives, including career exposure opportunities in the middle grade years, the embedded college access program operating full-time in six Philly high schools and a scholarship program which gives away $650,000 annually. The conversation also touched on PEF’s STEM focused initiatives around teacher professional development and “career connected” events.
Also outlined in the segment is the comprehensive online resource PhillyGoes2College.org, which is powered by PEF and designed specifically for Philly students looking for support and guidance around planning, applying and paying for college. Farah also shares with Andrea ways that PEF partners with the School District of Philadelphia to deliver programming through their Family Academy: Courses & Training (FACT) initiative.
Education groups seek more collaboration from next Philadelphia mayor
CBS Philadelphia, May 3, 2023
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — In just 13 days, Philadelphia Democrats will pick their nominee for the city’s 100th mayor. One issue weighing heavy on their minds will surely be education.
On Tuesday, the Philadelphia School District pitched its $4.5 billion budget to Mayor Jim Kenney and City Council. But this will be the final schools budget Kenney approves, leaving the future of education in the city to his successor. Right now, local groups CBS News Philadelphia spoke with are giving the state of education low marks.
PEF Program, PhillyGoes2College Recognizes $250,000 Grant Secured by Senator Vincent J. Hughes
6ABC, April 27, 2023
Navigating the transition to college
Al Dia, January 27th, 2023
In 2014, Madeline Birkner started at the Philadelphia Education Fund (PEF) as a College Access Program Coordinator at Olney Charter High School — executing a Federal TRIO Programs grant, designed for low income and first generation college students — where she would advise students for college and career.
After seven years of successfully connecting students to higher education, she recently became PEF’s Senior Manager for Persistence and College Partnerships, a position focused on helping students thrive in college.
6ABC Covers the PhillyGoes2College “I Am Philadelphia Contest” Kickoff Event on January 14, 2023
Philadelphia Education Fund promotes a discussion panel about educators’ needs
Al Dia, October 14th, 2022
Philadelphia Education Fund (PEF) is doing a monthly speaker series entitled Education First Compact, which aims to address pertinent topics to education. As the region’s leading voices on K-16 education, PEF wants to discuss strategies, tactics, and efforts to improve and sustain quality education for all of Philadelphia’s students.
On the morning of Oct. 13th, PEF held a conversation about the needs of educators and the great teacher resignation. The event had the presence of teachers and other education workers as guest speakers. They talked about improving working conditions and compensation for educators, as well as developing and expanding diversity among qualified educators.
With teachers being the most burned-out workers in America, according to a February Gallup poll, more teachers quit this June than during the height of the pandemic. Nearly half of America’s school districts started off the school year with significant teacher vacancies.
6ABC Covers Education First Compact opening event with Philadelphia School District Superintendent Dr Tony Watlington on September 1, 2022, at the National Constitution Center.
“Why am I here?” That’s the feeling many Latino students struggle with in higher education
Read about the experience and thoughts of Latina and first-generation students and how impostor syndrome affects their academic performance.
Al Día, August 11, 2022
When Frida Sanchez-Rosalino, a sophomore Spanish Education student at Elizabethtown College, arrived in the United States three years ago from Mexico, she changed the way she identified herself. She wasn’t just Mexican anymore, she was also Latina, she said.
A difficult process at first, it took her awhile to adapt to the new culture, language, food and school. Specifically in high school, where she attended an institution with not many Latinos, she felt she didn’t belong there. Also, struggling with learning English sometimes was a challenge for her to share ideas and thoughts, she felt incapable and insecure about herself.
Her ‘American dream’ ended up becoming an ‘American nightmare’, as she described.
Inspiring the Next Generation in STEM
Various individuals and organizations are making a concerted effort to bring more diversity to the very critical fields
Al Día, August 10, 2022
With the U.S. population simply growing more and more diverse, the workforce should start to reflect that diversity.
There are various other organizations across the region, and nationwide, that are working diligently to increase the level of diversity among individuals entering into careers within the STEM fields.
One such organization is GSK, the biopharma company that unites science, technology and talent to produce innovative vaccines and specialty medicines to prevent and treat disease.
In 2020, the organization began a new 10-year commitment in partnership with the Philadelphia Education Fund to help Black, Latinx and female students overcome obstacles to their pursuit of careers in the STEM fields through the creation of the Philadelphia STEM Equity.
Aslyn Anaya Planas and education as a door to the future
Al Día, June 22, 2022
Aslyn Anaya Planas came to Philadelphia when she was just two years old. Although she has few memories of her native island, no one can tear her away from her Caribbean roots. Now, Aslyn is an 18-year-old preparing to enter college. She was admitted to all the colleges she applied, settling on Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. She will begin her academic career in pre-med there, becoming the first generation in her family to pursue university studies.
Aslyn Anaya Planas y la educación como puerta para el futuro
Al Día, Junio 22, 2022
Aslyn Anaya Planas emigró de Puerto Rico a Filadelfia cuando apenas tenía 2 años. A pesar de que son pocos los recuerdos que guarda de su país natal, sus raíces caribeñas no se las arranca nadie. Ahora, Aslyn es una joven de 18 años que se prepara para adentrarse a la vida universitaria. Fue admitida en todas las universidades que solicitó, decidiéndose por la Thomas Jefferson University en Filadelfia. Allí comenzará su carrera académica en pre-medicina (pre-med), convirtiéndose en la primera generación de su familia en realizar estudios universitarios.
College access services coming to Frankford High
Northeast Times, December 10, 2021
The Department of Education earmarked the money to the Philadelphia Education Fund, which has already been readying students for college at Bartram, Olney, Roxborough, Furness and Kensington CAPA high schools. Thanks to the additional money, Frankford becomes the sixth school where the Philadelphia Education Fund will provide college access services. About 1,800 students will benefit annually at those schools.
$5 Million Grant to Expand College Access Program
NBC10 and Telemundo, December 2, 2021
On December 1st, 2021, local, state, and federal officials joined School District of Philadelphia and Philadelphia Education Fund leadership to announce the award of a $5 million TRIO Talent Search grant from the U.S. Department of Education. This grant renews our College Access Program funding at five Philadelphia high schools and enables PEF to add a sixth — Frankford High School. Watch two videos about the award below.
A federal college-access program, available at five Philly schools, to expand to Frankford High with $5 million
Philadelphia Inquirer, December 2, 2021
Thanks to a $5 million U.S. Department of Education grant announced Wednesday, the Philadelphia Education Fund will expand a college-access program that provides full-time, in-school guidance, one-on-one advising, and campus visits, as well as other offerings over the course of students’ high school careers. The program offered by the nonprofit, which provides education services and scholarships for Philadelphia schools and students, will serve nearly 2,000 kids — 500 at Frankford.
Pathways to Adult Success and Utilizing Recruiters to Increase College Ambition
Pathways to Adult Success, May 2021
Philadelphia Education Fund expanded programming to focus on the ABC’s of high school graduation and post-secondary planning: Attendance, Behavior, and Course selection and performance
This 10-year pledge aims to get more women, Black and Latinx Philadelphians in STEM careers
Technical.ly Philly, Aug 2020
GlaxoSmithKline’s $10 million commitment over 10 years will support the newly formed Philadelphia STEM Equity Collective.
The Philadelphia Education Fund-managed program formed with GSK is designed to increase collaboration between local schools, universities, government, companies and other STEM-focused stakeholders… to address the barriers that keep children from underrepresented groups from pursuing such careers.
A $10 million pledge to get more Philly Black, Latinx people, women in STEM careers
Philadelphia Inquirer, Aug 2020
Glaxo SmithKline is funding the Philadelphia STEM Equity Collective, which will be managed by the Philadelphia Education Fund, a local nonprofit.
With coronavirus crisis, the mission-driven work of Philly’s many nonprofits is needed more than ever | Opinion
Philadelphia Inquirer, Mar 2020
Philadelphia Education Fund President and CEO, Farah Jimenez, makes a case for supporting local non-profits through the COVID crisis, so they may continue serving Philadelphians with the greatest need.
Flashpoint: Privilege vs preference in college admissions scam
KYW News Radio, Mar 2019
Farah Jimenez, CEO of Philadelphia Education Fund joins Rodney Muhammad, president of the Philadelphia NAACP; Kimberley Lewis, outreach and engagement director at Philadelphia Futures and Esther Flavien, a first generation college student who is a junior at Lafayette College.
9-30 Philadelphia Education Fund About FAFSA Completion and Financial Aid Kickoff
iHeart Radio, Sep 2018
Loraine Ballard Morrill speaks with Farah Jimenez, President and CEO of the Philadelphia Education Fund about FAFSA Completion And Financial Aid Kickoff Event.
STEM educators aim for Philly students by energizing their teachers
KYW News Radio, May 2018
Science entertainer Grand Hank had 80 Philadelphia teachers waving their arms to the beat in his keynote to the daylong science, technology, engineering and math conference at GlaxoSmithKline headquarters at the Navy Yard. The program was staged by the Philadelphia Education Fund, where Nancy Peter is the director of the McKinney Center for STEM Education. She says students need to envision themselves in STEM careers.
Farah Jimenez, Philadelphia Education Fund, on C-SPAN.org
C-SPAN.org, Jan 2018
Historians Carol Berkin and Denver Brunsman, community leader Farah Jimenez, and the Constitutional Sources Project executive director Julie Silverbrook highlighted two lesser known documents from the founding era.
The documents were a September 1787 letter by anti-federalist Mercy Otis Warren, and a 1790 report on public credit by Alexander Hamilton. The National Constitution Center and the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History co-hosted this event.
Philadelphia’s Education Sector Supported by Nonprofits Receiving Lincoln Financial Grants
LINCOLNFINANCIAL.COM, Nov 2017
Almost $765,000 Awarded Philadelphia Education Fund for its College Access Program, providing college prep guidance to low-income and at-risk students.
Garfield Partners with Philadelphia Education Fund
Garfield Group, Oct 2017
Each year, Garfield teams up with a local charity to give back to the community we’re honored to call home. And since we have a new home this year — right in Old City, Philadelphia — we wanted to work with an organization that aligns with the innovative spirit that has fueled Philadelphia’s history of shaping the future, from Ben Franklin’s lightning rod to today’s ground-breaking medical research.
Philadelphia Education Fund receives $3 million grant to support college readiness
Sep, 2016
SRC’s Jimenez to Lead Philadelphia Education Fund
Philadelphia Inquirer, Apr 2016
Robeson partnership with Philadelphia Education Fund provides students with tools to succeed
Philadelphia Tribune, Dec 2015
There is no better demonstration of commitment to the values of civic engagement, service learning and leadership than community partnerships that work with schools. Through local partnerships, Paul Robeson High School provides academic support and college readiness for its students.
Happening now: Pa. Education Secretary Pedro Rivera stops by a Philadelphia Education Fund meeting
BillyPenn.com, Sep 2015
Philadelphia High Schooler Who Overcame Tough Circumstances Honored
3 CBS Philly, Nov 2014
A high school senior who overcame an overwhelmingly rough home life has been honored by the Philadelphia Education Fund. For most of her young life, Justina McMinn was so gripped by instability and uncertainty that school was merely an option… For her efforts, Justina has been named the recipient of the Education Funds Rising Star EDDY Award.
United Way and Philadelphia Education Fund Boost Academic Success for Philadelphia Students
Cision PR Newswire, Oct 2014
Early Warning Response System intervenes as early as sixth grade to help youth at risk of dropping out stay on track to high school graduation
East Kensington: Philadelphia Education Fund’s College Access Program Sets Students Up For Success
With Philadelphia Education Fund’s College Access Program, students at Kensington Creative and Performing Arts High School are equipped with the tools they need to further their education.
PhiladelphiaNeighborhoods: A program of the Department of Journalism at the Lew Klein College of Media and Communication at Temple University. (Apr, 2014)
