St. Philip's Academy in Newark, New Jersey, has announced a $3.5 million gift from an anonymous donor to continue its mission of making private school education available for disadvantaged youth in Newark and surrounding communities.

Received on the heels of the completion of an $18 million capital campaign that supported the conversion of an old chocolate factory into a state-of-the-art LEED-certified building, the gift will help St. Philip's provide a private school education to children in the area regardless of their families' ability to pay tuition. In an economic environment in which many individuals and foundations have reduced their giving, individual giving at St. Philip's has grown exponentially over the past two years, with about $6 million raised over that period for school operations. Because of its commitment to environmental sustainability and child wellness, the school also has been able to partner with several large corporations, including PSE&G and Verizon.

"It is about our vision and fundamental belief that you can build the world's best school in the much maligned city of Newark," said St. Philip's Academy head of school Miguel Brito. "Our ability to create programming that is innovative, provide a learning environment that is both joyous and deep, and to send our graduates to the finest secondary schools resonates with people who have faith that all children can succeed and reach their full potential provided with the right opportunity."