During a ceremony at its headquarters in Hatboro, PA, Fox Chase Bank officials presented the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) Philadelphia Program Office with a $30,000 grant. The funds will be used to support the NFTE curriculum "Entrepreneurship: Owning Your Future" in Greater Philadelphia high schools at which NFTE is currently being taught.

During a ceremony at its headquarters in Hatboro, PA, Fox Chase Bank officials presented the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) Philadelphia Program Office with a $30,000 grant. (Photo: Fox Chase Bank)

Written by NFTE founder Steve Mariotti, the curriculum teaches the fundamentals of developing a business plan. Lessons include the concepts of competitive advantage, ownership, opportunity recognition, marketing, finance, and product development — all of which tie back to core math and literacy skills. A recipient of the Association of Educational Publisher's Distinguished Achievement Award in the mathematics category, the curriculum focuses on critical basic business skills including business communications, negotiating, social responsibility and goal-setting.

“Fox Chase Bank has long been a champion for giving back to our community and for fostering entrepreneurship and business development,” said Sylvia Watts McKinney, Executive Director of NFTE Philadelphia. “The financial support we received will have a far-reaching impact on our students, the communities in which they live today, and the communities that they’ll serve tomorrow. We sincerely appreciate Fox Chase Bank’s continued support and generosity, and their ongoing commitment to education in the Philadelphia area.”

“Freedom to use one’s gifts and abilities to pursue the American dream is what defines our great nation,” said Tom Petro, CEO of Fox Chase Bank. “For many of our inner city youth, hope in this dream has faded. NFTE helps to reignite the flame of hope while teaching tangible skills needed to start and grow a business. We are privileged to invest in the formation of a new generation of entrepreneurs through the outstanding work of NFTE Philadelphia and encourage other business leaders to support this important work.”

About The Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE)

Too many young people today drop out of school and struggle to break the cycle of poverty. Since 1987, the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) has been inspiring young people to pursue educational opportunities, start their own businesses, and succeed in life. By providing entrepreneurship education programs relevant to the real world, NFTE empowers students to own their education in and out of the classroom and to find their own path to success. Hundreds of thousands of students have discovered opportunity all around them through entrepreneurship via thousands of certified educators worldwide. NFTE supports active programs in 21 states and 10 other countries through our network of program offices and licensed partners. Entrepreneurs are a powerful driver of economic growth and NFTE sows the seeds of innovation in students worldwide. To learn how you can help students realize their potential, visit www.nfte.com.

About NFTE Philadelphia

NFTE Philadelphia chapter was established in 2007 through initial donor support and seed funding from Safeguard Scientifics, Inc. (SFE) and Internet Capital Group (ICGE). Specifically in the Greater Philadelphia area, NFTE has reached more than 2,400 students from more than 20 different schools and recruited over 150 business leaders from the Greater Philadelphia area as guest speakers, coaches and judges. For more information about NFTE Philadelphia, please visit www.nfte.com/philadelphia or follow us on Twitter (www.twitter.com/NFTEphilly) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/NFTEPhiladelphia).

About Fox Chase Bank Charitable Foundation

The mission of the Fox Chase Bank Charitable Foundation is to foster growth of the business environment in the communities we serve and improve the quality of life for those who live in them. We seek to fulfill our mission by financially supporting non-profit organizations and programs in the communities we serve that: (a) Encourage business entrepreneurship and economic development; (b) Promote financial literacy; (c); Support artistic and cultural initiatives that enrich our communities; and (d) Provide vital human services, access to safe and affordable housing or economic stimulus. For more information about the Fox Chase Bank Charitable Foundation or to review the foundation’s grant guidelines, please visit: http://www.foxchasebank.com/community/charitable_foundation/charitable_foundation.asp

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