The WSFS CARES Foundation, the charitable giving arm of WSFS Financial Corporation (Nasdaq: WSFS), announced it provided grants and donations totaling more than $2.7 million to more than 323 community organizations located across Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania in 2024.
In addition to the grants, Team WSFS, the WSFS corporate volunteer program, volunteered more than 33,000 hours during 2024. This included the second annual “We Stand for Service Day” in June, a volunteer initiative where WSFS closed its banking offices for a half day so approximately 1,600 Associates could volunteer nearly 6,000 hours at more than 130 organizations and make an impact across the region.
“We are pleased that the CARES Foundation can continue to support the local nonprofits making a difference in our communities. They are doing important, essential work,” said Patrick J. Ward, Executive Vice President, Pennsylvania Market President at WSFS Bank and Chairman of the WSFS CARES Foundation. “Grants are awarded for initiatives that are innovative, creative, sustainable and replicable. The application is rigorous to ensure that the CARES Foundation is investing in proven programs that will continue to enhance our neighborhoods year after year.”
The WSFS CARES Foundation’s key pillars of support include community investments, affordable housing, revitalization and business economic empowerment, education and leadership development, and strengthening those in need.
The WSFS CARES Foundation provided a $300,000 grant to TeenSHARP for which it was recognized with Technical.ly Delaware’s 2024 Money Move of the Year. TeenSHARP is a national nonprofit based in Wilmington, Delaware that prepares Black, Latino, and low-income students to attend and thrive at America’s top colleges with little or no debt.
“The WSFS CARES Foundation continues to show up as a strong supporter of TeenSHARP for more than four years of our 15+ year run of opening the doors to opportunity and dynamic leadership for Black, Latino, and low-income students across the Delaware Valley,” said Tamara Fentress, Chief of Staff at TeenSHARP. “WSFS’ initial grant was a springboard to resource deeper application and sustainability of our programming delivery to students in a virtual setting, as well as our staffing. Now, with their continued support, we’re excited about what’s ahead to grow our A-List (alumni) program, DGCA (Delaware Goes to College Academy), and our premier Striver program experiences.”
Another organization that received a grant from the WSFS CARES Foundation in 2024 was Camden Shipyard & Maritime Museum for their carpentry pre-apprenticeship workforce development program. Through a curriculum designed by a registered professional structural engineer, students learn life, career, and essential carpentry trade skills from a retired union carpenter. The program’s career mentorship and in-demand vocational skill training expand the opportunity for these students to enter the workforce as prepared, confident and competitive job candidates. The program currently serves students ages 17-27 from Camden, Gloucester, and Burlington Counties with plans to expand its reach.
“The Shipyard Museum is incredibly grateful to the WSFS CARES Foundation for its continued support and, once again, sponsoring an entire class!” said Jack O’Byrne, Executive Director, Camden Shipyard & Maritime Museum. “The support of the WSFS CARES Foundation has allowed us to expand our outreach and give more individuals a jump-start to their careers and the path to professional success and financial independence. Through their support, WSFS is changing lives for the better.”
Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School, a college preparatory school, received a grant for its Work-Study program which places students with companies in the greater Philadelphia area. This program benefits both students and Philadelphia companies by developing a skilled and capable workforce pipeline.
“The WSFS CARES Foundation’s support of Cristo Rey’s Work-Study program enables us to continue providing real-world learning opportunities for our students,” said Porsha Colter, vice president, corporate work-study program, Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School. “Gaining this career exposure during high school prepares our students to be confident, young professionals and gives them a competitive edge in college and future careers.”
WSFS mentors four Cristo Rey work-study students as they work one day a week with various business lines across the company.
About the WSFS CARES Foundation
The WSFS CARES Foundation brings WSFS’ mission of We Stand for Service® to life across the communities we serve. The mission of the WSFS CARES Foundation is to support qualified nonprofit service organizations within our regional footprint that are invested in improving communities, fostering a spirit of inclusion and diversity, and whose focus aligns with the WSFS CARES Foundation’s transformational vision. For more information, please visit https://www.wsfsbank.com/about/community/the-wsfs-cares-foundation/.
About WSFS Financial Corporation
WSFS Financial Corporation is a multibillion-dollar financial services company. Its primary subsidiary, WSFS Bank, is the oldest and largest locally headquartered bank and wealth management franchise in the Greater Philadelphia and Delaware region. As of December 31, 2024, WSFS Financial Corporation had $20.8 billion in assets on its balance sheet and $89.4 billion in assets under management and administration. WSFS operates from 114 offices, 88 of which are banking offices, located in Pennsylvania (57), Delaware (39), New Jersey (14), Florida (2), Nevada (1) and Virginia (1) and provides comprehensive financial services including commercial banking, consumer banking, treasury management and trust and wealth management. Other subsidiaries or divisions include Arrow Land Transfer, Bryn Mawr Capital Management, LLC, Bryn Mawr Trust® , The Bryn Mawr Trust Company of Delaware, Cash Connect® , NewLane Finance® , Powdermill® Financial Solutions, WSFS Institutional Services® , WSFS Mortgage® , and WSFS Wealth® Investments. Serving the Greater Delaware Valley since 1832, WSFS Bank is one of the ten oldest banks in the United States continuously operating under the same name. For more information, please visit www.wsfsbank.com.
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Contacts
Media Contact: Connor Peoples
215-864-5645
cpeoples@wsfsbank.com
