The Annual Celebration brought total scholarship funds raised to over $325,000.
The 2026 Back to School Fundraiser and Celebration brought Joseph Fund Scholars, educators, and community leaders together for an unforgettable evening. From the very start of the night, Scholars from Camden Catholic, Gloucester Catholic, and Lincoln Tech had the opportunity to meet with guests and bond over their educational roots. On the mezzanine, old and new friends kicked off friendly bidding wars over a pair of Philadelphia 76ers tickets, giving attendees the chance to catch a historic season while directly supporting tuition assistance. (Fun fact: The Sixers’ practice facility is located right here in Camden!)
Eleven fifth graders from Catholic Partnership Schools (CPS) officially opened the night with a high-energy routine they had been perfecting all year. Dancing proudly on the grand staircase, the students sang their hearts out, exclaiming, “I’m better when I’m dancing!”
“Dancing reminds us that the good times are not far away …
remember to dance in good times and bad times!” – Journey
Beaming with pride after watching her students shine, Jameka Walker took the stage to accept the Msgr. Robert T. McDermott Philanthropy and Community Service Award. Ms. Walker paid tribute to Msgr. McDermott’s legacy in the CPS school network and highlighted the triumphs she sees in her hallways everyday. The Joseph Fund is deeply grateful for her leadership and the doors she continues to open for Camden youth.
After a heartfelt introduction from his CPS mentor, Kevin Soriano, senior Fernando Jardon Morales brought attendees into his world as a Gloucester Catholic Scholar. He has connected so deeply to the community and is maximizing every opportunity available. He hopes to return to the school as a teacher in the future! It was also touching to feel the pride he holds for his neighborhood CPS school as an alumnus. We are all looking forward to hearing how his senior year goes!
We also had the honor to hear from Monica Quinones, the grandmother of a Procacci Family Summer Enrichment Scholar named Zhamere. As one of the teachers in the program who was able to spend precious time with her grandson at the CDC this summer, she articulated just how life-changing the program has been for local families. Her story resonated strongly with our community picturing their own children and grandchildren.
The talent was overflowing this year, and to get the crowd amped to transform lives, next came a special act from the Camden Music Project! Symphony in C is continually working to expand music education programming in our community, especially in locations where young students would not otherwise have the opportunity to learn to play a musical instrument. This evening’s dinner was accompanied by four of the Symphony’s professional musicians along with several CPS middle school students, an organization that Symphony in C has worked with for nearly two decades.
When the fundraising thermometer came on screen, The Ralph L. & Florence A. Bernard Foundation had a special announcement. If $50,000 could be raised tonight, their foundation would match it dollar-for-dollar! Surrounded by the very Scholars their generosity supports, the crowd shattered the goal, raising nearly $140,000 for student scholarships in just a few minutes.
We are truly grateful for our community’s investment in Camden youth, and in awe of how many Joseph Fund Scholars have been supported thanks to the enduring support of Regina, Angela, and Tony at the Bernard Foundation.
To date, we have raised $325,000 from the 2026 Back to School Celebration! Thank you for making life-changing opportunities possible for these bright, active, and ambitious learners.