Students from the Philadelphia Union Foundation’s iAM Project got an inside look at the banking industry recently, when WSFS Bank hosted more than 30 students from Chester Charter Scholars Academy for a Learn & Explore Workshop at the company’s Wilmington headquarters.
The students spent a half-day at WSFS, during which they learned about the history and culture of the company and heard from associates who work in the banking and wealth management areas, as well as members of the team who work in the back office. They also had the opportunity to go behind-the-scenes of a WSFS branch.
“It was a pleasure hosting the students from the Chester Charter Scholars Academy,” said Justin Dunn, SVP, Chief Marketing Officer, WSFS Bank. “We hope that sharing our stories shows the students that there are many paths ahead of them. The workshop was a great example of WSFS mission in action. We look forward to finding ways to continue to partner with the Philadelphia Union Foundation to make a difference for these students.”
“The experience WSFS provided our students was nothing short of inspiring. Their dedication to exposing young minds to the inner workings of the banking industry is truly commendable,” said Akousa Watts, CEO, Chester Charter Scholars Academy. “The presentations from both customer-facing and associate-facing departments were enlightening, offering our students a comprehensive view of the diverse career opportunities within the world of banking. The WSFS team's willingness to share their professional experience and personal insights was a testament to the company’s commitment to education and community engagement."
Learn & Explore Workshops are a core piece of programming for the iAM Project, which connects students from Chester Charter Scholars Academy with some of the region’s largest companies, as well as a network of inspirational speakers, mentors, universities and internships — all designed to help the students maximize their personal, academic and professional potential. Students have also attended workshops hosted by Bimbo Bakeries USA, Lincoln Financial Group and The Boeing Company.
“Learn & Explore Workshops like the one WSFS hosted today are incredibly important to the iAM Project,” said Paul Howard, Executive Director, Philadelphia Union Foundation. “We want to help our iAM Project Scholars understand the breadth of careers and jobs that are available, and that career journeys are often not a straight path. When the students connect with people who are willing to share how they got to where they are, including the bumps along the way and how they overcame challenges, it inspires our students as they think about their own futures.”
The iAM Project is supported through partnerships with Bimbo Bakeries USA, The Boeing Company, the Durant Family Foundation, Language Services Associates, Lincoln Financial Group, Neumann University and WSFS Bank.
About the Philadelphia Union Foundation
The Philadelphia Union Foundation has been and will always be, an agent of change for the underserved. The Foundation builds safe spaces to play soccer for families throughout Philadelphia, provides innovative educational initiatives and a professional soccer infrastructure for high school students in Chester; and is developing a pioneering mental fitness program to support young players, parents and coaches across the Delaware Valley. In 2019, the Foundation brought soccer back to the high school students of Chester for the first time in 30 years. In 2020, during the worst of the pandemic, it created its Fight For Philly initiative, providing support for frontline workers and the most vulnerable in society. In 2021, the Foundation opened the first of fifteen mini-pitches to be built in inner-city Philadelphia. Later that same year, it launched its iAM Project — a transformational career-readiness program for the young men and women of Chester.
New for 2023, the Foundation will launch an innovative mental health awareness and education program for our teen soccer players in the region, will unveil an expanded, philanthropically funded, no-cost soccer program in Chester and fund paid internships and a mentorship program for our iAM Project scholars. These projects mark a realization of the Foundation’s commitment to leveraging the power of soccer to create opportunities and to transform lives. For more information about the Philadelphia Union Foundation, visit www.philadelphiaunion.com/foundation. For donations, visit www.philadelphiaunionfoundation.org.
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 trust company in the Greater Philadelphia and Delaware region. As of June 30, 2023, WSFS Financial Corporation had $20.4 billion in assets on its balance sheet and $67.9 billion in assets under management and administration. WSFS operates from 114 offices, 88 of which are banking offices, located in Pennsylvania (59), Delaware (39), New Jersey (14), Virginia (1) and Nevada (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.
