A pi(e) for a P.I.

Faculty from left to right (top photo): Valder Arruda, Craig Bassing, Kelly Jordan-Sciutto, Jean Bennett, Paul Bates, Brian Keith, Dan Kessler. Picture credit to Kathleen O’Connor-Cooley and Gleb Bazilevsky.

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In keeping with the spirit of tradition, the CAMB Student Newsletter team hosted the second annual “Pie a PI” event on Friday, March 16. This event raised money and awareness for a local charity, by having donors throw whipped cream pies at CAMB faculty. In the name of supporting a good cause, Craig Bassing (CB), Brian Keith (CB), Paul Bates (MVP), Jean Bennett (GTV), Valder Arruda (GTV), Dan Kessler (chair-CAMB), and Kelly Jordan-Sciutto (director-BGS) volunteered to have pies thrown at their faces by students and postdocs for $1 raffle tickets.

Once again, the Newsletter team dedicated the proceeds of the event to the Children's Scholarship Fund Philadelphia (CSFP). Founded in 2001, CSFP is a privately funded, Pennsylvania-based partner of the national Children’s Scholarship Fund, and is committed to improving educational and social outcomes for children from low-income families. Every year, the program awards up to 2,000 need-based scholarships through a lottery drawing, helping children from low-income families attend private schools. According to their website, approximately 96% of CSFP alumni will graduate high school on time (vs. approximately 70% for Philadelphia public schools) and 80% of scholarship recipients will pursue higher-education.

CSFP currently serves about 5,200 elementary and middle sc­hool children (K-8th grade) enrolled at over 170 private and parochial schools, and supports students for up to 4 years. According to their mission statement, CSFP is proud to be the most “broad-based and diverse K-8th grade scholarship program in Pennsylvania”. The program is currently ranked in the top 7% of charities and has been awarded 5 consecutive perfect score ratings by Charity Navigator. According to Charity Navigator metrics, CSFP is more financially healthy, accountable, and transparent than other organizations supporting similar causes.

When asked about her feeling on getting a pie-d, Jordan-Sciutto remarked, “It’s such a great event! I think the play on words pi, pie, and PI, is fun, and I’m thrilled to support a great cause!”

Thanks to our donors, the Newsletter team was able to raise close to $200 for CSFP this year. The donation will go towards CSFP’s operational costs, and provide a vital and meaningful service to Philadelphia’s youth. From all of us at the CAMB Student Newsletter, we’d like to extend a huge thank you to the faculty, donors, and everyone who helped make this event a success. We hope to see you again next year!