The following news article appeared in the November 15, 2007 issue of The Catholic Standard & Times

BANK, TOWNSHIP AND STATE OFFICIALS PRESENT GIFTS TO BLOCS
by Christie L. Chicoine, Staff Writer, The Catholic Standard & Times

DOWNINGTOWN — DNB First, a bank based here, recently donated $65,000 to BLOCS (Business Leadership Organized for Catholic Schools) for scholarships for students in need at 10 Catholic schools in Chester County.

The bank’s contribution was made through the Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program, which allows businesses to donate to scholarship programs while earning tax credits.

DNB First requested that the funds be distributed to the following schools for tuition assistance grants during the 2008-’09 academic year:

• St. Agnes, West Chester — $10,000
• St. Joseph, Downingtown — $10,000
• SS. Simon and Jude, West Chester — $10,000
• St. Patrick, Kennett Square — $5,000
• St. Maximilian Kolbe, West Chester — $5,000
• St. Elizabeth, Uwchlan — $5,000
• Assumption B.V.M., West grove — $5,000
• Sacred Heart, Oxford — $5,000
• Pope John Paul II Regional Catholic Elementary School, West Brandywine — $5,000
• Bishop Shanahan High School, Downingtown — $5,000

“The Catholic school system is well-known for providing exceptional education to children, integrating the values of citizenship andcommunity service,” said William S. Latoff, chairman and chief executive officer of DNB First, which is based in Downingtown.

“[Catholic schools’] efforts have long-lasting effects, as our children become adults and community leaders, and incorporate their values into their own families and businesses,” he said.

“We hope that our donation not only provides valuable funds for their continuing work, but also serves to raise general awareness for the exceptional work that the Catholic school system provides,” Latoff added. He, himself, is a product of Catholic schools: He attended St. Cecilia School in Coatesville and St. Joseph School in Downingtown, and now belongs to St. Agnes Parish in West Chester.

(L to R) - Mayor Joseph DiGirolamo; Rev. Larry Crehan, pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas; Rev. John Meyers, pastor of Our Lady of Fatima; Senator Robert Tomlinson; Colleen Noone, principal of St. Thomas Aquinas; Sr. Barbara Browne, principal of Our Lady of Fatima; Christina DiMichele, Associate Director of BLOCS; Sr. Rita Marian Angelilli, principal of St. Charles Borromeo; Sr. Mary Barbara Brahl, principal of St. Ephrem; Ron Davis, Director of Diversity and Community Development for the Philadelphia Park Casino; Msgr. Kenneth McAteer, pastor of St. Ephrem; Representative Gene DiGirolamo; Rev. Michael Lonergan, pastor of St Elizabeth Ann Seton

BLOCS also recently received $87,000 for scholarship funds for four Catholic elementary schools in Bucks County’s Cluster 28: St. Charles Borromeo, St. Ephrem and Our Lady of Fatima, all in Bensalem, and St. Thomas Aquinas in Croydon. The funds will also be used as tuition assistance grants in 2008-’09.

At a ceremony Thursday, Nov. 8, at the Bensalem Township municipal building, township and state officials presented the $87,000 check to BLOCS on behalf of area businesses, and thanked the organization for supporting education in the region.

Along with contributions through the EITC program, part of the $87,000 was also raised through St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Bensalem.

The Cluster 28 schools are receiving an additional $125,000 in tuition assistance from Bensalem-area businesses through two other scholarship organizations.

At the same ceremony, a $100,000 check was presented to the Henkels Foundation of Blue Bell, and a $25,000 check went to the Bridge Educational Foundation, Inc., of Harrisburg.

Now in its 27th year, BLOCS was established to serve as the Archdiocese’s official conduit and fund-raising entity for the business communities in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties. It connects Catholic schools with corporations and foundations that want to support Catholic education.

Auxiliary Bishop Joseph P. McFadden, who assists Cardinal Justin Rigali in overseeing the Secretariat for Catholic Education, said the Archdiocese is grateful to area business leaders and Pennsylvania state legislators for the impact EITC is making in students’ lives.

“I applaud the courageous legislators who helped enact the EITC legislation, and thank the business leaders in our community who have seen the value of making sure that every child has the opportunity to receive a quality education and that parents should have the final say in the education of their child,” Bishop McFadden said.

For more information about BLOCS, call (215) 587-0590 or access the Web site, www.BLOCS.org.

Businesses interested in participating in the EITC program may contact BLOCS or visit the state’s Web site, www.NewPA.com/EITC.

CS&T Staff Writer Christie L. Chicoine may be reached at (215) 587-2468 or cchicoin@adphila.org.