Archbishop of Washington to Speak at American Federation for Children's 2013 Educational Choice Policy Summit

Cardinal Donald Wuerl will join a slate of prominent education reform leaders at AFC's national summit

WASHINGTON, Jan. 9, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Federation for Children—the nation's voice for educational choice—today announced that Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington, will deliver a keynote speech at the organization's fourth annual National Policy Summit, to be held Monday, May 20 and Tuesday, May 21, 2013 at the Gaylord National Resort outside of Washington, D.C.

Having served as the Archbishop of Washington since 2006, Cardinal Wuerl was elevated to the College of Cardinals in 2010 by Pope Benedict XVI. He is known nationally for his efforts on behalf of Catholic education, and is chancellor of The Catholic University of America, chairman of the board of directors at the National Catholic Educational Association, and chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Doctrine.

Cardinal Wuerl has been a strong advocate of the highly-successful D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program, which this year is helping nearly 1,600 students attend private and Catholic schools of their parents' choice. At the AFC annual Summit, Cardinal Wuerl will discuss the importance of helping low-income families gain access to better educational options. 

"We're honored to have Cardinal Wuerl, who has exhibited amazing leadership in the fight to restore and strengthen educational choice in Washington, D.C., join us for our Summit this year," said Kevin P. Chavous, founding board member and Executive Counsel for the American Federation for Children. "He is a dedicated advocate for children and we are proud to welcome him to this national event."

Prior to the reauthorization of the D.C. program in the spring of 2011, Cardinal Wuerl accompanied scholarship students as guests of House Speaker John Boehner to watch the State of the Union address from the speaker's box. Since the program's inception in 2004, more than 11,000 students have applied for the program and nearly 6,000 students have received scholarships.

The annual AFC Policy Summit has for the past three years brought together a diverse group of elected officials, business and policy leaders, philanthropists, and media commentators to discuss the importance of giving parents access to high-quality educational options.

Registration for the 2013 Summit is now open and interested individuals can find out more information at www.AFCPolicySummit.com.

SOURCE American Federation for Children