Daniel M. DiLella ’69 Commits $10 Million to Advance Roman’s Next Chapter
For Immediate Release:
Daniel M. DiLella ’69 Commits $10 Million to Advance Roman’s Next Chapter
PHILADELPHIA– The Roman Catholic High School of Philadelphia is proud to unveil its plans for a brand new, state-of-the-art STEM Center above its existing parking lot, with a transformational $10 million commitment from Roman’s Chairman of the Board of Directors, Mr. Daniel M. DiLella ’69.
At a kick-off reception at the Union League of Philadelphia, Roman’s President, Mr. John A. Prendergast ’08, announced DiLella’s commitment to his alma mater as the next phase of Roman’s Vision of Promise expansion project. Roman previously expanded its campus footprint when it opened the Howard Center for the Arts, a freestanding 40,000 square foot building, in 2018.
DiLella has served as the Chairman of Roman’s Board of Directors since its inception in 1991. His leadership and philanthropy have helped advance Thomas E. Cahill’s mission and strengthened the school’s position as a leader in Catholic education in the Delaware Valley.
“We would not be here today without Dan DiLella,” said President Prendergast. “His leadership and generosity represent the very best of the Roman spirit, and I know he is excited to do this for his alma mater and the city of Philadelphia. Dan’s investment will open doors for hundreds of young men over the coming years to learn and lead as Roman Gentlemen. His gift not only honors Cahill’s mission and our proud past but also propels us boldly into the future. My hope is that many other alumni and friends of Roman are inspired by Dan’s philanthropy. If everyone steps forward as they are able to support us financially in this endeavor, we will swiftly get this project to the finish line.”
Including DiLella’s lead gift, Roman has raised $20 million toward this project with a goal of reaching $30 million to make this expansion a reality. Roman is calling on all businesses, organizations, foundations, and individuals with a passion for providing opportunities to underserved students to step forward to help the school complete this initiative.
On what motivated him to make this incredible gift, DiLella said, “In our lifetime, we should all give back – we all owe someone. Roman creates opportunities for young men as it did for me. I want to create the best STEM Center in the region for the young men of Philadelphia.”
Outside of his continued commitment to Roman, DiLella is Chairman of Equus Capital Partners, Ltd. Under his leadership, Equus has grown into a multifaceted national real estate investment company with expertise in development, investment, asset management, and property management.
Currently, the Roman Catholic High School of Philadelphia has a total student population of 650 students. Roman draws a diverse student body representing over 200 different elementary schools from more than 95 zip codes across the Delaware Valley. Roman’s outcomes are most impressive. In fact, 96% of the most recent graduating class were accepted to, and ultimately attended, some of the finest colleges and universities in the region and across the nation – earning a collective $26 million in scholarships to continue their education. For the small percentage of students who did not opt for higher education, they chose to pursue the trades or to serve our country in the armed forces.
For media inquiries, please contact:
John A. Prendergast ’08 President Roman Catholic High School jprendergast@romancatholichs.com 215-627-5487 ext. 204
# # # Editor’s Note:
The Roman Catholic High School of Philadelphia was founded by Thomas E. Cahill in 1890 as the first free Diocesan Catholic high school for boys in the nation. Today, Roman Catholic continues its tradition of excellence as it strives to offer a comprehensive academic curriculum within a disciplined Catholic environment. Enriched by its cultural, racial, and religious diversity, Roman Catholic provides a community where each young man can learn to appreciate and respect the uniqueness of others while becoming a man of personal integrity. For more information, please visit: www.romancatholichs.com