Governor Corbett Participates in Independence Mission School Rally
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 18, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Tom Corbett today participated in a rally in support of the Independence Mission Schools of Philadelphia.
"The Catholic schools of Philadelphia and every other town in our state only worry about one thing: making life better for students and their families,'' Corbett said. "You don't have to be rich. You don't have to be famous. You don't even have to be Catholic.''
Today's rally was held at the St. Martin of Tours Elementary School on Roosevelt Boulevard, one of 16 elementary schools in and around Philadelphia that comprise the Independence Mission Schools.
The Independence Mission Schools, which officially starts in September, is a network of Catholic elementary schools that operate under the management of one central business operation to provide a cost-effective educational alternative to students and their families.
More than 4,100 grade school children from low-income neighborhoods attend these schools, without regard to faith or financial status. When the Catholic elementary schools were slated to be closed for financial reasons, a group of business people organized the network.
"Times are a little more difficult for the churches that support those schools, but their students and their families still have that need for an education that fits their dreams. That's why we need to use our imagination and find ways to help schools like St. Martin of Tours and the 15 other schools that are part of the Independence Mission Schools.
"That's why we enacted the Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit program,'' Corbett said. "It allows businesses to direct scholarship money to help students meet their tuition. In return, they get a lower tax bill and we all get a better person in the form of the student who comes out of that school ready for life.''
Also at today's event, the Independence Mission Schools introduced its new president, Aldo Cavalli.
For more information, visit www.pa.gov
Media contact: Janet Kelley, 717-783-1116
SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor
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