Founder of Cristo Rey Network to Speak in San Francisco about Alternative Business Models for Education

Students in Need and Local Businesses Benefit from Breakthrough Model

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On January 20th, Fr. John P. Foley, founder, and Rob Birdsell, president, of the ground-breaking Cristo Rey Network, will visit San Francisco to provide informational sessions on how their innovative educational business model can benefit San Francisco businesses, while supporting the education and work study goals of students from financially disadvantaged families.

Fr. Foley and Mr. Birdsell will both be speaking at two events that day, one at Coblentz, Patch, Duffy and Bass LLP in the Ferry Building, Suite 200 from 12:00 - 1:30 pm and the second at Immaculate Conception Academy on 24th and Guerrero Streets from 6:00 - 7:30 pm. They will discuss the unique work-study program central to the Cristo Rey model, which not only helps students offset the cost of their tuition, but also supplies businesses with the equivalent of one full-time entry level employee.

About Cristo Rey

The Cristo Rey Network, highlighted in a 60 Minutes interview, is comprised of 24 schools nationwide. All Network schools provide students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds with a quality college preparatory education, academic assistance and counseling to prepare students with a broad range of abilities for college. Through participation in the work study component, students finance a majority of the cost of their education, gain real world job experience, grow in self-confidence, and realize the relevance of their education.

About ICA

In 2009 Immaculate Conception Academy, an all-girls school in the Mission district of San Francisco, became a member of the Cristo Rey Network in order to further its mission of serving "the young, the poor and the vulnerable." The information sessions, which will be held this Thursday, offer an opportunity to learn about a work study program that will benefit both young women of the Bay Area, and the San Francisco business world.

For more information about the event, ICA, or Cristo Rey please visit www.icacademy.org or www.cristoreynetwork.org.

SOURCE Immaculate Conception Academy