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$1.1 Million to
Build Bright Futures!
On Thursday October 26, 2023 over 320 guests gathered to celebrate 40 years of Building Bright Futures with CIS of Eastern PA. Together, we raised over $1 million at our 40th Anniversary Celebration event!
None of it would have been possible without the donations and support of our kind-hearted friends and loyal supporters.
The 40th-anniversary celebration, which featured remarks from Communities In Schools National CEO Rey Saldaña, raised funds to support the campaign’s goal to sustain and expand our current programs, deepen relationships in the school districts we serve, and cultivate new relationships with additional partners.
A special thanks to the event’s honorary co-chairs, Bill and Denise Spence and Kathleen and JB Reilly, and to CIS Lifetime Champion of Education Award recipients Bob and Sandy Lovett.
We’d also like to thank Genesis Ortega for serving as the event’s Master of Ceremonies and to the CIS Inaugural Leadership Circle inductees honored at the event: State Secretary of Revenue Pat Browne; Former Allentown School District Superintendent Diane Scott; and local businessman and former CIS Board Chair Charlie Marcon.
The celebration culminated our year-long “Building Bright Futures” 40th-anniversary campaign to increase awareness of our organization’s work and to support our future goals of serving more students than ever before.
Click below to see our 40th Anniversary Impact Report
See More Photos from our 40th Anniversary Celebration. Click Below!
Experience what our celebration was like with our video recap!
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Celebrating 40 years of
"Building Bright Futures"
The CIS Story
Communities In Schools of Eastern PA is continually broadening and accelerating its efforts to build more transformative relationships with students. While we currently serve nearly 37,000 elementary, middle and high school students in 40 schools across Northampton, Lehigh and Berks counties, we know this is just a fraction of the students in need.
Many of the students CIS serves are facing poverty, social isolation, lack of access to medical and mental health resources and more, all of which has been exacerbated by the pandemic. Now more than ever, there is an overarching need to surround students from all backgrounds with the necessary resources to navigate these challenging times.
CIS addresses the most at-risk students in a unique way. We ask the question, “What is preventing this student from coming to school ready to learn?” The ways we respond are as unique as each child. Our work unlocks student potential, and breaks down barriers preventing them from achieving success.
With our evidence-based model of Integrated Student Supports, CIS is the only organization of its kind proven to both REDUCE dropout rates and INCREASE on-time graduation. Last year, 88% of our seniors graduated from high school, 90% of our students were promoted to the next grade, and 76% improved in academics.
Our goal is to be able to sustain and expand the programs we offer for another 40 years and beyond. We plan to deepen our services in high-need districts where we currently work, and widen our footprint in additional schools and districts to reach even more at-risk students.
CIS Leadership Circle
At the upcoming 40th Anniversary celebration, Communities In Schools of Eastern Pennsylvania will honor and induct three individuals into our newly created Leadership Circle. The Leadership Circle acknowledges individuals who in the course of our 40 years, have provided transformational leadership, courage and enduring support for the mission of CIS.
State Secretary of Revenue Pat Browne, Former Allentown School District Superintendent Diane Scott, and local businessman and former CIS Board Chair Charlie Marcon will be recognized for their outstanding leadership, courage, and unwavering support of our mission.
IT'S A CELEBRATION!
Check out how we kicked off our 40th anniversary year in style!
Over 130 guests attended our kickoff event at Penn State Lehigh Valley. Together, we look to "Build Bright Futures" for our students for the next 40 years and beyond!
Communities In Schools has been Building Bright Futures
in Eastern Pennsylvania for 40 years.
Watch the video below to learn more about our history!
"Programs don't change children, relationships do."
-Bill Milliken, founder of CIS