Barry McGrorty
Monique Heillegger Patton
Pressy Abraham Cirio
Liz Newell
Joanne Sibony
Aileen McNulty
Claude Lawrence
Makeda Boehm
Per Scholas and Comcast “Team UP” to Power Philadelphia’s Next Generation of Tech Talent
In a powerful display of corporate engagement and community partnership, learners from Per Scholas Philadelphia’s Center City and OIC Philadelphia campuses recently visited the Comcast Technology Center for an intensive day of mentorship, career exploration, and real-world preparation.
The visit highlighted the critical role that employer-led exposure plays in strengthening local career pathways. By opening their doors, Comcast provided learners with more than just a tour; they provided a tangible look at the future of the tech industry in their own hometown.
The day concluded with a high-level conversation featuring Melissa Scott, MBA, Chief Information Officer for the City of Philadelphia. The discussion focused on the future of tech talent and the importance of building a robust, inclusive ecosystem within the region. The experience was also possible thanks to Gwyneth Gaul, VP of Strategic Partnerships and Philanthropy at Comcast and her continued partnership work with Per Scholas.
The success of the event was made possible through the collaboration of several key stakeholders:
- Comcast Team UP Volunteers: Provided direct interview preparation and shared industry insights.
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Per Scholas & OIC Philadelphia: Coordinated the cohort of learners currently training for tech careers.
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City of Philadelphia Leadership: Represented by CIO Melissa Scott, emphasizing civic support for workforce development.
We are grateful for our ongoing partnership with Comcast and the impact they continue to make with our learners, which goes beyond skills training.
Per Scholas Philadelphia Secures Historic Multi-Year Grant from William Penn Foundation
PHILADELPHIA, PA — Per Scholas, a national leader in no-cost technology training, proudly announces it has received its first-ever multi-year grant from the William Penn Foundation to reduce barriers to accessing quality jobs in Philadelphia. This landmark commitment will provide essential, sustained support for Per Scholas Philadelphia’s mission to open doors to technology careers for individuals in Philadelphia communities, strengthening its position as a critical workforce development engine in the city.
This significant investment made by the William Penn Foundation is part of a collaborative effort from a coalition of funders to support access to workforce training and follows closely on the heels of the formal launch of Per Scholas Philadelphia’s satellite location on November 17th. The grant not only recognizes the immediate impact of Per Scholas’ no-cost, demand-driven training model but also builds critical momentum as Per Scholas Philadelphia scales its efforts across the region to reduce barriers to tech workforce training.
In addition, this grant will allow Per Scholas to:
- Sustain and grow our core workforce development programs.
- Deepen employer partnerships to increase job placement rates.
- Build credibility within the philanthropic and corporate community as a proven solution for economic mobility.
“With this generous investment from William Penn Foundation and its funding partners, the future technologists in our classrooms will continue to thrive with help from our Learner Support Team made up of MSWs and Financial Coaches who provide support from acceptance through post-graduation,” said Per Scholas Philadelphia Managing Director Joshua Park. “They’ll get to take advantage of our Zero-Percent Loan program, and they’ll benefit from the expanded community partnerships we’re building to multiply barrier-reduction supports across local organizations like OIC Philadelphia, where we’ve launched our IT Support satellite classroom.”
Since establishing its presence in the region, Per Scholas Philadelphia has been committed to providing rigorous training in fields including IT Support, Cybersecurity, and Software Engineering. The organization partners with leading employers to ensure graduates possess the skills needed for immediate and long-term success.
Per Scholas Philadelphia is excited to embark on this work with support from the William Penn Foundation, furthering its commitment to advancing economic mobility and transforming the tech landscape in the region.
About Per Scholas
As Per Scholas celebrates 30 years of impact, we are charting an ambitious path forward— expanding access to high-growth tech careers and fostering economic mobility nationwide. Since 1995, we’ve offered no-cost tech training to more than 30,000 technologists in the most sought-after tech skills. On average, our learners earn 3x their pre-training wage in their first role after Per Scholas. With 25+ campuses and remote programs, we partner with employers—from Fortune 500 companies to startups—to create inclusive talent pipelines in fields like Cloud, Cybersecurity, Data Engineering, IT Support, and Software Engineering. More than half of our learners hold a high school diploma as their highest educational credential. We are building a future where successful careers in tech are accessible to everyone across urban, suburban, and rural communities, empowering individuals to unlock their potential and drive transformative economic change nationwide.
Learn more at PerScholas.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, and
About William Penn Foundation
The William Penn Foundation, founded in 1945 by Otto and Phoebe Haas, is committed to expanding access to resources and opportunities that promote a more vital and just city and region for all. We do this through funding programs in the Philadelphia region in arts and culture, children and families, democracy and civic initiatives, environment and public space, and workforce training and services. Learn more at www.williampennfoundation.org.