Young people today are participating in philanthropy differently than generations of the past. It’s social, extra-curricular (not part of corporate programs) and widespread. That’s something with which I identify.
Continue reading I gave 2% of my 2015 salary to nonprofits with missions I support
Shirley Boggs needs help.
Boggs is the founder of Mothers United Through Tragedy, the often-struggling yet always-inspiring Strawberry Mansion-based nonprofit that aims to expose the humanity lost in violence in Philadelphia.
This Saturday at 2 p.m., her eighth annual FootPrints of Life is in danger of coming up short — as I wrote for CityPaper.
Every year, in front of the Philadelphia Art Museum steps, her group places a pair of shoes on the ground to represent each man, woman and child who was killed the previous year. But, after the past weekend’s last big collection came up short, she has just 175 for the 333 lives lost in 2008. Boggs, whose own son was shot to death during a 1997 robbery, is in particular need for men’s shoes of any kind or size.
After the event, those shoes are given to Self Inc., which distributes them to homeless shelters throughout Philadelphia.
Continue reading FootPrints Of Life @ Philadelphia Art Museum steps
As filed – without edits – for last Friday’s edition of the Philadelphia Business Journal.
IF PHILANTHROPY ALWAYS HAD this much to do with meatballs, everyone would get involved.
Looking for a new way to raise money for Susan G. Komen Philadelphia Race for the Cure, Linda Rosanio enlisted her mother “Mama” Nancy Catelli to sell her homemade meatball sandwiches in the cafeteria of the Star Group, a marketing and communications company in Center City.
“I don’t think she realized how many sandwiches she would have to make,” Rosanio, who is CEO of the company, said of her 82-year-old retired mother.
Continue reading Linda Rosanio: raising money for Susan G. Komen with Mama Nancy Catelli meatballs
As filed – without edits – for today’s edition of the Philadelphia Business Journal.
BRINGING A PROFESSIONAL SOCCER TEAM to Chester may have little to do with bringing professional soccer to Chester.
In February, Philadelphia was officially granted Major League Soccer’s 16th franchise, to be played in a 20,000-seat, soccer-specific stadium that is leading a major waterfront renovation in Chester. The Sons of Ben, a group of soccer fans eager for Philadelphia to join the growing league that formed in January 2007, led the excitement that surrounded speculation preceding the announcement. Now that their mission to bring the world sport to the city has been completed, they’ve taken to bettering the community of 36,000 that will house their still unnamed Philadelphia soccer franchise.
“Once it was announced that the stadium would be in Chester and the funding would be all set, we reached out for a way to get involved,” said Bryan James, Sons of Ben president and founding member.
Continue reading The Sons of Ben: Philadelphia soccer fans benefiting Chester
As filed – without edits – for last Friday’s of the Philadelphia Business Journal.
THE SPIRIT OF PHILADELPHIA partnered with the Kelly Anne Dolan Memorial Fund on April 20 to benefit families in the region with seriously ill or disabled children. Four hundred patients and their loved ones were aboard the Spirit of Philadelphia, along with Miss Philadelphia Brintha Vasagar and Miss Pennsylvania Rachel Brooks. The cruise was also meant to honor the Dolan Memorial Fund, which has raised more than $7 million and helped with the uninsured needs of more than 17,000 families in its 31-year history. The nonprofit has treated more than 2,000 children and their families by welcoming them onto the Spirit of Philadelphia over the past six years.
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As filed – without editing – last week for yesterday’s edition of the Philadelphia Business Journal.
SCA Americas has gone green with its educational advocacy.
The Swedish consumer goods and paper company with U.S. headquarters in Philadelphia celebrated Earth Day last week by donating a book with a message to elementary schools in Philadelphia.
“For SCA, sustainability goes beyond environmentalism,” said Amy Bellcourt, vice president of communications for SCA Americas. “It goes to creating sustainability communities.”
The company donated 10 copies of “Earth Day Hooray” by Stuart J. Murphy to each of Philadelphia’s 170 public elementary schools, some of which were visited by SCA employees on April 21.
“This is a great opportunity to learn how to make stronger environments where they live,” she said.
Continue reading SCA Americas celebrates Earth Day with Philadelphia schools
As filed – without edits – for last Friday’s edition of the Philadelphia Business Journal.
IT IS DISTURBING JUST HOW often you think you have heard the story.
How an 18-year-old finds a drive after the prom to be her last.
Last year Lacey Gallagher was a senior at Little Flower Catholic High School for Girls, at Lycoming Street and 10th near Hunting Park.
She died one year ago Monday. And it was hard. But, Lacey’s parents wanted to find good out of tragedy. People on the1600-block of East Eyre Street in Fishtown find good out of tragedy. They implored support for Pennsylvania House Bill No. 163, which would increase the phased licensing of young drivers in Pennsylvania. They raised awareness of the dangers of teenage drivers, particularly during late night drives in crowded cars on prom night.
The family wanted a more permanent way to keep Lacey’s memory alive, so they have launched a scholarship fund and are in the process of establishing a nonprofit in Lacey’s name.
“It is about going on our own and establishing our own name,” said Denise Gallagher, Lacey’s mother. “We want this to last.”
Continue reading Our promise to Lacey: Lacey Gallagher remembered one year later
As filed – without editing – last week for yesterday’s edition of the Philadelphia Business Journal.
Dan Soskin, the owner of Pinot, a wine and accessories store in Old City, wants you to give a home to needy animals.
“I have four pets of my own,” he said. “With the exception of the iguana, they were all adoptees.”
Using the visibility of First Friday on April 4, Soskin, who also has a dog and two cats, partnered with the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society to promote pet adoptions.
“Some say ‘What does wine have to do with that?” Soskin said. “Well, people who appreciate wine and good wine accessories have a heart… They appreciate the good things in life. I think pets are good things in life.”
Pinot pledged 10 percent of the night’s sales, as much as $500, to PAWS, which also found homes for a handful of animals on the night.
“I think at least one kitten,” he said. “It is kitten season now, you know.”
“We have been here a year and a half, so we wanted to do something good,” he said. “I know about the homeless population of animals in Philadelphia. It is a serious problem.”
More than 200 people came through Pinot, and at least as many visited PAWS, Soskin said.
Dogs were mingling with passersby on the sidewalk.
“They had ‘Adopt Me’ vests right in front of the store. It was a magnet.” he said. “Come in, we can talk about wine, we can talk about pets, we can talk about wine accessories.”
It was a success that may happen again, Soskin said.
“The volunteers at PAWS are great, Their whole operation, they get a lot of homes for animals,” he said. “We’re already talking about doing the same thing… It was very exciting to have the partnership go so well at the get go. I look forward for future projects.”
Photo courtesy of Pinot. Dan Soskin, owner of Pinot, and Tara Derby, CEO of PAWS, raise a glass to Snowy and some of the other dogs available for adoption at “Wines, Canines, and Felines” April 4 at PINOT’s 227 Market Street location and PAWS’ adoption center at 100 N. 2nd Street. Also pictured are PAWS volunteers Carla Schultes and Garrett Elwood, with pooches Mackey and Vegas.
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As filed last week for tomorrow’s edition of the Philadelphia Business Journal.
Bowlers just might be the real test of the economy.
Organizers of the 14th annual charity bowling tournament sponsored Remington & Vernick Engineers and Affiliates, a consulting agency in Haddonfield, N.J., were worried if they could top their total last year, roughly $69,000, with some fearing a sluggish U.S. economy.
Maybe things aren’t as bad as others think because last month’s event raised more than $80,000 to benefit the Mommy’s Light Lives On Fund, the Canuso Foundation, Sensory Playhouse, the Alicia Rose “Victorious” Foundation and the Little Rock Foundation.
“We were pleasantly surprised, with the way the economy has been,” said Chip Adamson, a senior associate at Remington & Vernick who also serves as its charity committee corporate liaison.
Since its establishment in 1990, the committee has raised more than $250,000. Bowlers paid $10 for two-and-a-half hours of bowling at Baker Lanes on Cuthbert Boulevard in Cherry Hill, N.J., which included live entertainment, shoe rental, food and drink, and trophies for the day’s top bowlers.
In 14 years, the bowling event has grown, from its first year when just $440 was raised to this year’s $80,000.
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As filed last week for the Philadelphia Business Journal, to run in last Friday’s edition.
There are those who seek out an opportunity to swim in a frigid lake in March.
“Honestly, it’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” said Gary Frisch, company president of Swordfish, a public relations agency in Voorhees, N.J. “I’ve been itching to do it, though maybe a little afraid, scared of how my body would react.”
Of course, there are also those who just want to watch.
