Dear Guest of the CEO Breakfast,

In the words of this week's editorial from The Post and Courier about the effort to open a Cristo Rey school in North Charleston, "We should not only hope that this work gets done, but ask ourselves, our neighbors and our leaders to do what they can to ensure it does". (Click below for full article) We are in the home stretch to gain approval to open a Cristo Rey school in Charleston. We need your leadership to get this over the finish line! As Mayor Cogswell noted at the breakfast, "Charleston punches above its weight". Mayor Cogswell noted that even though this will be a smaller market than where some of the other 40 Cristo Rey schools across the U.S. are located, leaders here are demonstrating that the Charleston Business community has the desire, capacity and innovative DNA to support and sustain the school by providing mentorship and jobs to future students.

The time is now to show that Charleston punches above its weight by signing up to become a job partner or taking time to learn more about becoming one. Over 20 companies already have!

If you were not able to attend the CEO Breakfast on Thursday below are some highlights of the event in which over 40 Charleston area executives from various industries gathered to learn about the effort to open a Cristo Rey model high school in North Charleston which couples college readiness with workforce readiness.

Cristo Rey’s Transformative Impact on Employers and Students

1. Positive Impact on Culture: Employers like Comcast shared how Cristo Rey students positively impacted their workplace culture by bringing innovative perspective and a strong work ethic. These young professionals often combat the sense of entitlement seen in today's youth, demonstrating a hunger for growth and learning that lifts the entire team. This cross-generational knowledge sharing, as illustrated by a student’s contribution to technical tasks like using Google Earth, enriches both the students and their coworkers.
2. Structured Accountability with Proven Results: Cristo Rey's disciplined model connects high school students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds to organizations in a structed manner, ensuring accountability on all sides. Backed by compelling data, the program has a proven track record of providing youth with the opportunity to transform their own lives, opening pathways to higher education and careers, and instilling a sense of responsibility.
3. Cristo Rey Makes it Easy for Employers: The Cristo Rey Corporate Work Study Program (CWSP) takes the pressure off partnering organizations by providing support and structure that ensures a smooth and manageable integration of student workers. This system allows companies to participate without feeling overwhelmed, making it easier to engage in the program. The school staff assists with everything from job description development to onboarding, and plays an integral role in professional development and performance management as it treats students not only as young scholars but also as young professionals. Over 2,700 businesses host Cristo Rey students across the U.S. Here are a few: Corporate Partnerships - Cristo Rey Network
4. Delivering an ROI for Employers: Cristo Rey is a key factor in employee retention, especially among younger professionals who are drawn to companies with a demonstrated commitment to community impact. Participating employers note that new hires value tangible contributions to social good, and Cristo Rey offers clear evidence of such efforts. The program also helps bridge the workforce gap, addressing the shortage of qualified candidates for Charleston's growing job market.
5. Game Changer for Students: Cristo Rey provides students with meaningful work experience that shift their perspectives on what actual career pathways are available while ensuring they are prepared to be accepted to and graduate from college (100% college acceptance rate across the network of 40 schools). The ROI for students is real career exposure, transferable skills development and powerful business networks before they graduate from high school.

Thank you to Casey Lavin, President and CEO of Beemok Hospitality

Collection for hosting this event and the employers listed below for

becoming founding Cristo Rey Job Partners. If you are interested in

learning more please connect with Cristo Rey Charleston Executive

Director, Joanna Wusinich at jwusinich@cristoreycharleston.org. The

school hopes to secure a wait list of interested companies prior to opening

its doors in August 2026 to the inaugural freshman class.