PAI provided services to:
Administration21 Schools
PAI provided services to:
Administration
During the school year of 2020-2021, PAI has worked across 18 Philadelphia schools (both middle and high schools) – providing direct (and indirect) student services to 3,592 students as well as capacity building support to 180 teachers.
But service numbers do not tell the whole story of PAI’s impact. Snapshots of some of our participants, outlining their experiences with PAI and how those experiences have shaped their lives, say so much more.
Emanuel (Manny) Ocasio, who often felt as though he did not “fit in” and whose family struggled with poverty, joined the culinary program at Mastbaum High School in 2012 as a sophomore. His involvement with PAI began when he participated in our Business of Hospitality program at Mastbaum, which provided Manny access to seminars at a local hotel to learn on-the-job, customer-service skills. When Manny’s interests shifted to engineering, PAI was able to place him in internships over two successive summers at Elliott-Lewis Corporation, an HVAC and mechanical service company. His success in his internship led the COO of Elliott-Lewis to offer Manny a permanent job when he graduated high school in 2015. Starting as an Administrative Assistant, juggling his work hours with attending the Community College of Philadelphia where he earned an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration, Manny continued to climb the corporate ladder at Elliott-Lewis, most recently serving as Database Coordinator. Given his track record over four years at Elliott-Lewis, the CEO offered to sponsor Manny to complete a 4-year degree. Manny graduated from La Salle University in May 2021, with a Bachelor’s of Science in Accounting, and has secured a position as a tax associate at a leading advisory, tax and assurance firm in Philadelphia.
Manny has continued to receive mentorship from PAI President and CEO, Jay Vazquez, throughout the years and appreciates having the support and wisdom of a fellow Latino in leadership. Manny epitomizes what it means to be a leader and dreams of one day becoming a CEO himself. He has remained a dedicated student, earning a plethora of additional credentials through the Corporate Finance Institute and is a member of the Dean’s Advisory Board at La Salle, serving as well as a mentor for undecided freshman trying to choose the right major in the business school. Manny has volunteered his time as a judge for student competitions related to personal finance, such as DECA. He has also continued to give back to those that helped him along the way, volunteering to support a variety of initiatives with The School District of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Academies. At only 23 years old, Manny already has a lifetime of experiences. We are so, so honored to know him and call him an alumni.
Emanuel (Manny) Ocasio, who often felt as though he did not “fit in” and whose family struggled with poverty, joined the culinary program at Mastbaum High School in 2012 as a sophomore. His involvement with PAI began when he participated in our Business of Hospitality program at Mastbaum, which provided Manny access to seminars at a local hotel to learn on-the-job, customer-service skills. When Manny’s interests shifted to engineering, PAI was able to place him in internships over two successive summers at Elliott-Lewis Corporation, an HVAC and mechanical service company. His success in his internship led the COO of Elliott-Lewis to offer Manny a permanent job when he graduated high school in 2015. Starting as an Administrative Assistant, juggling his work hours with attending the Community College of Philadelphia where he earned an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration, Manny continued to climb the corporate ladder at Elliott-Lewis, most recently serving as Database Coordinator. Given his track record over four years at Elliott-Lewis, the CEO offered to sponsor Manny to complete a 4-year degree. Manny graduated from La Salle University in May 2021, with a Bachelor’s of Science in Accounting, and has secured a position as a tax associate at a leading advisory, tax and assurance firm in Philadelphia.
Manny has continued to receive mentorship from PAI President and CEO, Jay Vazquez, throughout the years and appreciates having the support and wisdom of a fellow Latino in leadership. Manny epitomizes what it means to be a leader and dreams of one day becoming a CEO himself. He has remained a dedicated student, earning a plethora of additional credentials through the Corporate Finance Institute and is a member of the Dean’s Advisory Board at La Salle, serving as well as a mentor for undecided freshman trying to choose the right major in the business school. Manny has volunteered his time as a judge for student competitions related to personal finance, such as DECA. He has also continued to give back to those that helped him along the way, volunteering to support a variety of initiatives with The School District of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Academies. At only 23 years old, Manny already has a lifetime of experiences. We are so, so honored to know him and call him an alumni.