The Community College of Philadelphia Foundation recently announced that it is to benefit from a grant of $144,000. The grant from Parx Casino will cover three years of the college’s diversity and inclusion program. CCPs financially beneficial partnership with Parx has existed since 2017.

What the grant will cover
The generous grant will ensure that the college continues to help students who were traditionally underserved and need support. It will cover student scholarships and support leadership conferences. Emergency funds will be available to cover meals, transportation, and book costs. Students who receive help to overcome the challenges they face are more likely to achieve academically and fulfill their career goals.

Dr. M. Zanjani, the Foundation’s executive director, says the college continues to benefit from its partnership with Parx, which has a brick-and-mortar facility and offers online casinos for real money. With over 25 years of experience in higher education and in the not-for-profit sector, Dr. Zanjani, a first-generation student herself, is aware of the significance of grants on the success of students.

Programs that will benefit
Some of the programs at the college that will benefit from the grant include the Women’s Outreach and Advocacy Center; the Center for Male Engagement; the Veterans Resource Center; the Center on Disability; the MarcDavid LGBTQ Center; the annual Black and Gold Gala; and the Office of Collegiate Recovery.

Corporate social responsibility
Today, the public expects businesses to have social objectives and those with long-term profits are willing to make commitments. The current pandemic and global financial crisis have increased the need for businesses to take social responsibility. CSR in the U.S. is playing an even more important role due to the current pandemic and global financial crisis.

Students need mentoring too
Ron Davis, chief diversity officer and director of community development at Parx, said that the financial support they offer to the college is important but that the real-life, meaningful engagement between CCP students and Parx team members was the real measure of success of the partnership.

Mentors are necessary to inspire and help the students to grow and this is a long-lasting component of the partnership. Students today face many significant issues that they didn’t have to face in the past. They have to face confusion about many topics that have arisen due to the coronavirus pandemic and will have to contend with the fallout from the pandemic for many years to come.

Parx’s commitment to student success through the support of CCP’s diversity, inclusion and equity initiative is admirable and the estimated amount of $48,000 a year will do much to empower the students who need support.