Facts:

• Founded in 2009 with the goal of providing low-income Philadelphia students with a quality education and an adult mentor

• Named in honor of Father John McNamee, the longtime pastor of St. Malachy’s Parish in north Philadelphia and author of Diary of a City Priest

• Over $525,000 paid or committed to scholarships for 38 high school and college students

• Provided each high school scholar with an adult volunteer mentor who meets with the student on a monthly basis

• 100% of the students are low-income and a strong majority are African-American or Latino

• No paid staff

• Selects high school scholars from four grammar schools in North and West Philadelphia – St. Malachy’s School, Hope Partnership for Education, La Salle Academy and Saint Francis de Sales School

• High schools that scholars have attended include Bishop McDevitt High School, Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School, John Hallahan Catholic Girls High School, Little Flower Catholic High School for Girls, Merion Mercy Academy, Roman Catholic High School, St. Joseph’s Preparatory School, West Catholic Preparatory High School

• Colleges and universities that scholars currently attend or received degrees include American University, Fairfield University, George Mason University, La Salle University, Swarthmore College, Temple University, University of Pittsburgh, Virginia Commonwealth University and Wesleyan University

• The organization intends to provide high school scholarships going forward beginning in May 2020