WILMINGTON, DE — The WSFS CARES Foundation, the charitable arm of WSFS Financial Corporation, announced it distributed over $2.7 million in grants and donations across 323 community organizations spanning Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania in 2024. Complementing these contributions, Team WSFS volunteered an impressive 33,000 hours, including nearly 6,000 hours during the bank’s “We Stand for Service Day.”
“We are pleased that the CARES Foundation can continue to support the local nonprofits making a difference in our communities,” said Patrick J. Ward, Executive Vice President and Chairman of the WSFS CARES Foundation. “Grants are awarded for initiatives that are innovative, creative, sustainable and replicable.”
The Foundation’s efforts focused on five pillars of support, including education, economic empowerment, affordable housing, and community revitalization.
A $300,000 grant to TeenSHARP, recognized as Technical.ly Delaware’s 2024 Money Move of the Year, is helping prepare Black, Latino, and low-income students to thrive in top colleges with minimal debt. “This support has allowed us to expand and sustain programming that opens opportunities for underserved students,” said Tamara Fentress, Chief of Staff at TeenSHARP.
Camden Shipyard & Maritime Museum also received funding to enhance its carpentry pre-apprenticeship program. This initiative equips students with essential trade and career skills, creating valuable pathways into the workforce. “The support of the WSFS CARES Foundation has allowed us to expand our outreach and change lives for the better,” said Executive Director Jack O’Byrne.
Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School was another beneficiary, receiving funding for its Work-Study program, which connects students with companies in the Philadelphia area to build professional skills. “This support enables us to prepare students to enter college and future careers with confidence,” said Porsha Colter, vice president of Cristo Rey’s Work-Study program.
The WSFS CARES Foundation continues to play a crucial role in uplifting communities through strategic financial support and volunteerism, impacting countless individuals and organizations across the region.
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