FROM THE CHAIRMAN & CEO

Dear BLOCS Family, On behalf of the BLOCS Staff and Board of Directors, we are honored to present our 2021 Impact Report, showcasing the contributions our donors have made to improving the lives of countless young students and their families all throughout the Philadelphia area. Due to rapid technological societal change, at no time in history has the progress gap been wider between learners and non-learners. As workforce academic needs grow exponentially, a higher percentage of American school systems are not equipping students with the basic skills and knowledge required to perform at the collegiate level or to market themselves as ‘workforce-ready’ beyond high school graduation. Philadelphia has the highest poverty rate in the nation, while Catholic schools have a 14,000-person waiting list of children who cannot afford tuition.

An investment in BLOCS provides our donors with an opportunity to create boundless educational opportunities for our future leaders, while supporting a transformational community organization. BLOCS students achieve a 99% graduation rate versus 66% in the Philadelphia School District. BLOCS-supported schools recognize that discipline and education equate to an upward mobility that often leads to more fulfilled lives and successful futures. It is an exceptional honor to represent an organization that has been creating generational change through education for more than 40 years. As leaders in our neighborhoods, parishes and business community, we are called to steward a society toward greater growth and opportunity than the one we inherited from our parents. It is our patriotic duty to increase our community’s educational standards to remain competitive both nationally and globally. It is our religious duty to measure our legacy by the scope of our service to others. It is our professional duty to create a society for future generations that is prepared for the economic changes to come. BLOCS is on pace to raise over $50 million dollars in scholarships this year. On behalf of our students, we sincerely thank our donors for a remarkable year – you are changing lives. We have experienced enormous successes due to the organization’s dynamic leadership and the effective collaboration with the Philadelphia business community, but there is still work to be done.

As we look ahead to the future, we implore you to imagine the type of world you wish to bestow upon the next generation. We believe that through educational investment in partnership with BLOCS, together we can create a transformational impact on Philadelphia. We look forward to continuing our great work alongside you, our valued partners. Thank you and God’s Blessings,

Matt Topley Board Chairman

Dave Rowan Chief Executive Officer