History
In 1980,
Business Leadership Organized for Catholic Schools (BLOCS), announced at a press conference at the Union League of Philadelphia, the start of a financial campaign to aid parochial schools. The newly formed committee, together with the Archdiocese of Philadelphia tabbed William S. Fishman, (former Chief Executive Officer of ARA Services, now Aramark), as the first Board Chair.
Fishman’s motivations to involve himself in the effort were borne from a desire to ensure a qualified labor pool for Philadelphia firms.
The committee was aligned with Fishman’s assertions about the correlation between Catholic education, high academic standards, and job readiness. The Archdiocesan schools constituted the eighth largest system at the time in the U.S., and these graduates fueled the city’s labor force. The committee acknowledged a fundraising campaign was necessary to keep the city’s economy strong for years to come.
Major Milestones
“The product the parochial schools graduate and make available to us as employers is better than the public schools. Their work habits are better. Their attendance is better.
They are more reliable, desirable employees.”
– William S. Fishman
