FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OIC Philadelphia Receives $50,000 Grant from The Connelly Foundation to Launch Culinary Internship Program at New Sullivan's Way Digital Café
Historic partnership honors legacy of collaboration between John F. Connelly and OIC Founder Rev. Dr. Leon Sullivan
Philadelphia, PA – [Date] – OIC Philadelphia announced today that it has been awarded a $50,000 grant from the Connelly Foundation to establish a comprehensive internship program for graduates of its acclaimed culinary arts training program. The funding will enable OIC to hire recent graduates to help launch and operate Sullivan's Way Digital Café, a new grab-and-go café opening this fall.
The grant represents a meaningful continuation of a historic partnership between two Philadelphia institutions. John F. Connelly, former Chairman of the Crown Cork and Seal Company and founder of the Connelly Foundation, worked closely with OIC founder Rev. Dr. Leon Sullivan and was an original signatory of the Sullivan Principles—the groundbreaking corporate code of conduct that promoted equal rights and fair treatment for Black workers and became a model for corporate social responsibility worldwide.
"This grant from the Connelly Foundation honors a legacy of partnership that spans generations," said Sheila Ireland, CEO & President of OIC Philadelphia. "John Connelly's commitment to Rev. Dr. Sullivan's vision of economic empowerment through education and job training continues today through this investment in our culinary graduates. Sullivan's Way Digital Café will provide our students with real-world experience while serving our community—exactly the kind of opportunity that both leaders championed."
The internship program will provide hands-on experience in café operations, food service management, customer relations, and small business practices. Graduates from OIC's culinary arts program will gain valuable work experience while earning competitive wages, creating a direct pathway from training to employment.
Sullivan's Way Digital Café, named in honor of Rev. Dr. Leon Sullivan, will offer fresh, affordable grab-and-go options while serving as a living laboratory for OIC culinary graduates to refine their skills and build professional experience.
"The Connelly Foundation's commitment to strengthening workforce skills and providing opportunities to those seeking to improve their lives aligns perfectly with OIC's model of training and placement," Ireland added. "We're grateful for this investment in our graduates and in the future of our community."
About OIC Philadelphia OIC Philadelphia, a leader in workforce development since 1964, stands at the intersection of workforce development, social justice, and economic empowerment by connecting individuals to future-proof employment that provides a family-sustaining wage with career ladder opportunities for growth. Founded by Reverend Dr. Leon H. Sullivan, OIC Philadelphia envisions economic empowerment as a pathway to social justice. For more, visit www.OICPhila.org.
About The Connelly Foundation. Inspired by its Catholic heritage, Connelly Foundation’s mission since its founding in 1955 is to improve the quality of life in the Philadelphia region by supporting charitable organizations in the areas of education, human services, arts and culture, and civic renewal that strengthen resilience and help people to flourish. The work of the Foundation is principally driven by its founders, John and Josephine Connelly’s personal charitable principles, with an emphasis on strengthening Catholic education and providing help and opportunity to those in need.
