WILMINGTON, Del.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The WSFS CARES Foundation, the charitable giving arm of WSFS Bank (Nasdaq: WSFS), announced it provided grants and donations totaling more than $2.7 million to more than 390 community organizations located across Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania in 2023. WSFS also made a $2.0 million contribution to the WSFS CARES Foundation in 2023 to support future investments in its Communities.

In addition to the grants, Team WSFS, the WSFS corporate volunteer program, volunteered more than 18,000 hours during 2023. This included the inaugural “We Stand for Service Day” in June, a volunteer initiative where WSFS closed its banking offices for a half day so approximately 1,200 Associates could volunteer nearly 5,000 hours at more than 80 organizations and make an impact across the Greater Philadelphia and Delaware region.

“In 2023, the WSFS CARES Foundation provided grants to more than 390 community organizations who have a shared focus with the Foundation’s key pillars,” said Patrick J. Ward, Executive Vice President, Pennsylvania Market President at WSFS Bank and Chairman of the WSFS CARES Foundation. “We’re proud of the impact the WSFS CARES Foundation and our Team WSFS volunteers have made by working hand-in-hand to address the needs of our Communities, and I would like to thank our dedicated Associate volunteers for living our mission each day.”

The WSFS CARES Foundation’s key pillars of support include community investments, affordable housing, revitalization and business economic empowerment, education and leadership development, and strengthening those in need.

Among the organizations receiving a grant from the WSFS CARES Foundation in 2023 was Philadelphia Academies, Inc. (PAI) to support its mission to be an innovative nonprofit organization that works with students, educators, and partners to improve outcomes for Philadelphia's young people. In addition to the grant, WSFS provided 10 financial education workshops for more than 150 PAI students in 2023.

“WSFS Bank has been instrumental in our efforts to improve outcomes for youth in Philadelphia,” said Jay Vazquez, President and CEO, Philadelphia Academies, Inc. “Thanks to their partnership, our students have gained invaluable financial literacy instruction and enjoyed transformative learning experiences.”

In New Jersey, Cathedral Kitchen received a grant to support its mission to help people out of food insecurity and champion their pursuit of stability and prosperity. In addition to financial support, Team WSFS took part in regular volunteer initiatives with the organization, including for the inaugural “We Stand for Service Day.”

“Cathedral Kitchen is grateful to the WSFS CARES Foundation for their generous support, both financially and through their dedicated Associate volunteerism,” said Carrie Kitchen-Santiago, Executive Director, Cathedral Kitchen. “Their support helps us continue to meet the immediate needs of vulnerable families and individuals in our community while helping them break down barriers to stability.”

The WSFS CARES Foundation also provided support to Sunday Breakfast Mission through a grant as well as partnering together for WSFS’ annual Food Drive, which raised 56,000 pounds of food to be donated to Sunday Breakfast Mission and Sharing Excess.

“When you think about a partnership between a Bank and a charity that has resulted in more than a million and a half meals to hungry men, women and children, as well as hundreds of lives that have been transformed through programs that began with one of those meals, it is no longer just a Bank and a charity,” said Rev. Tom Laymon, Senior Pastor, CEO and President, Sunday Breakfast Mission. “It is a wonderful life-giving family adventure – that is what WSFS Bank has been with Sunday Breakfast Mission.”

About the WSFS CARES Foundation

The WSFS CARES Foundation brings WSFS’ mission of We Stand for Service® to life across the communities we serve. The mission of the WSFS CARES Foundation is to support qualified nonprofit service organizations within our regional footprint that are invested in improving communities, fostering a spirit of inclusion and diversity, and whose focus aligns with the WSFS CARES Foundation’s transformational vision. For more information, please visit https://www.wsfsbank.com/about/community/the-wsfs-cares-foundation/.

About WSFS Financial Corporation

WSFS Financial Corporation is a multibillion-dollar financial services company. Its primary subsidiary, WSFS Bank, is the oldest and largest locally headquartered bank and trust company in the Greater Philadelphia and Delaware region. As of December 31, 2023, WSFS Financial Corporation had $20.6 billion in assets on its balance sheet and $84.3 billion in assets under management and administration. WSFS operates from 114 offices, 88 of which are banking offices, located in Pennsylvania (57), Delaware (40), New Jersey (14), Florida (1), Nevada (1) and Virginia (1) and provides comprehensive financial services including commercial banking, consumer banking, treasury management and trust and wealth management. Other subsidiaries or divisions include Arrow Land Transfer, Bryn Mawr Capital Management, LLC, Bryn Mawr Trust^®, The Bryn Mawr Trust Company of Delaware, Cash Connect^®, NewLane Finance^®, Powdermill^® Financial Solutions, WSFS Institutional Services^®, WSFS Mortgage^®, and WSFS Wealth^® Investments. Serving the Greater Delaware Valley since 1832, WSFS Bank is one of the ten oldest banks in the United States continuously operating under the same name. For more information, please visit www.wsfsbank.com.