Bear Affair

The 12th annual Harmelin Media Bear Affair was a roaring success Thursday night at the Crystal Tea Room in Center City, Philadelphia.  I again had the opportunity to emcee and auction off a few items to benefit the Philadelphia Children’s Alliance.  I was joined by Mike Missanelli, of 97.5 The Fanatic (great job Mikey Miss), plus Philadelphia Eagles Chad Hall and Riley Cooper.  Pete Ciarrocchi, of the Philadelphia Soul, and Don Tollefson stopped by to help out.

The biggest stars of the night were the survivors, and the police officers, the workers at the Department of Human Services, of course the Alliance folks, and all the corporate and other contributors who know the importance of  preventing child sexual abuse and of helping rebuild lives if that abuse has occurred. A big moment is when young ladies, members of the Daisies and Brownies, brought teddy bears they had made to make them available to kids who could use the comfort of a good bear.

Probably the biggest fun moment of the night was how enthusiastically Riley and Chad allowed themselves to be auctioned off.  As I said to the bidders, they are wide receivers, you’re allowed to make a pass at them.

For the Kids

A fabulous celebration last night in Center City, Philadelphia for the National Adoption Center!  The Center, based here, celebrated its 40th anniversary.  I got a chance to auction off a couple of items as part of the fundraising event.  Special congratulations go to founder Carolyn Johnson and to advocate for children and families, Alba Martinez.  Hall of Famers, they are.  As Ken Mullner, Gloria Hochman, and all at the Center say, there are no unwanted children, just unfound families.  Thanks to the work of the individuals at the NAC, more than 23,000 children have found homes. Yes, for the kids!

A Giving Life

Kathryn Voit passed away last night.  Kathryn, of Cheltenham, had lived with ALS for more than 10 years.  That in itself is inspirational to those diagnosed with the disease, but her contributions to improving people’s lives just begins there.  She was a particularly meaningful person to the folks who work at the ALS Association, Greater Philadelphia Chapter.  Kathryn was a constant reminder of the importance of love and the irreplaceable power of touch.  Even as the ability to communicate became difficult, her soul and mind composed a poem that expresses what we all should know about the needs of  people with ALS, and likely other serious illnesses, and how  the behaviors of those around them change.  The poem is called “To Touch” and it is written below.  It tells the vital importance of being  hugged, of being touched in ordinary ways that most of us take for granted but that too often are abandoned or forgotten when a person’s illness progresses.

                                     To Touch

 

Babies are swaddled.

Tots are picked up.

Children want to be cuddled,

Folks still touch when grownup.

 

Adults need their skin pressed

From handshake to hug.

Healing arms are therapy.

Touch is a wonder drug.

 

Those sitting in wheelchairs

May be yearning for an embrace.

If hesitant, just ask,

Then, watch their face.

 

Skin is our largest organ,

Not only for protection

But expressing inner feelings,

Profound communication.

 

The brush of lips,

Pressure from an arm,

Holding hands generates a glow.

All variants have charm.

 

Thrill to tactile sensation,

And give it generously.

There are people near at hand,

Who need touch desperately.

 KHV

8/22/11

Thank you, Kathryn, for this and for your entire, wonderful life.  Kathryn Voit was 80.  My condolences to Kathryn’s family, especially her husband, Gerry, and to her extended family at the ALS Association, Greater Philadelphia Chapter.

ALS, or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, is a disease of the nerve cells. More information can be found at www.alsphiladelphia.org.

Mall Walking

More than 500 great citizens walked through the King of Prussia Mall this morning in the annual MDA Make A Muscle, Make A Difference Walk.  Walkers came in all combinations, including large teams.  There was the fun warm-up and when all were ready, Maddie Crowley, of Downingtown and the MDA Statewide Goodwill Ambassador, cut the gold ribbon to begin the walk through the mall.

The revenue raised by the walk will go for support services offered by the Muscular Dystrophy Association and for research into more than 40 neuromuscular diseases.

Thanks to all the walkers.  You Made A Muscle…

                                              And Made a Difference!

Appreciating the Mummers

The 1st annual Mummers Appreciation Weekend has been humming and strumming right along at SugarHouse Casino in Fishtown.  Hundreds of Mummers have been stopping by since Friday afternoon.  The Battle of the Bands, a string band competition, has been taking place today.

SugarHouse is also giving away a “Mummed-up” Harley Davidson motorcycle Sunday afternoon.  Only Mummers are eligible and the winner has to be present to win.  The bike really looks good.  Love the art work on the gas tank.

The casino was the presenting sponsor of the 2012 SugarHouse Casino Mummers Parade and is showing its appreciation for these goodwill ambassadors of the City of Philadelphia.  Members of Hog Island, members of Murray Comic Club, Mummers from various string bands and fancy brigades were there.  Folks from PHL17 also took part in the good food and drink.

 

Stand Up. Take the Pledge.

The Philadelphia Children’s Alliance issued a call to action today. PCA, which seeks justice for victims of child sexual abuse, called on everyone to pledge not to stay silent, but to report child sex abuse. At a news conference today in Center City, Philadelphia, PCA unveiled a pledge it hopes everyone will embrace.  (The pledge is farther down below.) Joining PCA today were the Philadelphia Soul and the Greater Media radio group.  I’ve been involved with the Alliance for a few years and was also asked to make a few statements and lead folks in the pledge.  The Soul is donating to PCA some of the proceeds from every ticket sold for the home opener against Cleveland on April 1^st.  The 5 stations of Greater Media will be talking about the Philadelphia Children’s Alliance and urging you to take the pledge and support the cause. Ron Jaworski, part-owner of the Soul, hopes everyone will, “Stand up and be sure that people are aware that sexual abuse of our children is taking place. Don’t be quiet. Let the authorities know.”  The great Olympian Carl Lewis told me, “This is not just about someone else’s family. This is about all of our families, all of our communities. So, we need to come together.”  Here’s the pledge:

“If I see, hear, suspect, or in any way become aware that a child is being abused, I will not keep silent.  I will have the courage to help that child break free of the silence, secrecy and shame that should never define a child’s life.” 

If you see a child being abused, please call 911 immediately.

Joe Paterno

I met Joe and Sue Paterno only once. It was at a Special Olympics of Pennsylvania fundraiser at which I was the emcee and the Paternos were the honorees.  A photo of the coach and me still sits among other pictures on the bookshelf in my office.  It was taken at the end of a fun, genuine evening, in which Coach Paterno and his wife were recognized for some of the ways they have spent their time and money, making better the lives of thousands of young people in Pennsylvania.  Coach and I engaged in good-natured, competitive banter throughout evening.  For the record, he won, though I’d like to consider it a tie worthy of overtime.  Mr. and Mrs. Paterno were very gracious, even inviting my wife and me to stop by the house sometime. That kind of invitation was common from the Paternos.

My freshman year at Notre Dame was Ara Parseghian’s last year as head football coach. He was so highly respected on campus that when students were tired of the South Bend snow, some would look to the sky and say, “Ara, stop the snow.”  Success in football brings adoration, but, some coaches, as other educators, also earn respect through their ability to teach, to lead by example and to inspire.

As I think about Mr. Paterno’s life and passing, I believe that the Penn State community and the larger society will eventually understand and accurately describe the life of Joe Paterno.  For now, I join many others in offering my condolences to Sue Paterno and the Paterno family .

 I don’t plan on removing the photo from my shelf anytime soon.

2013 Order of Enjoyment

The String Band Division has selected its Order of March, or as I call it, the Order of Enjoyment, for the 2013 SugarHouse Casino Mummers Parade. This is a critically important draw as 2012 Champion Woodland String Band plots strategy of how best to defend its title and SugarHouse Casino PHL17 Viewer’s Choice Winner South Philadelphia String Band has had to battle in recent years to make an impression on the judges that will last through the entire round.

 It was a packed house in the Mummers Museum as representatives of each band selected envelopes, each containing one number.  In the draw, both Ferko and Quaker City improved their positions over 2012. Fralinger, which for 2 years has started near the beginning of the division, will in 2013 conclude the performances. Going up the street 1st will be Greater Overbrook String Band.

Here’s how it all sets up for New Year’s Day, 2013!

1. Greater O

2. Durning

3. Trilby

4. Broomall

5. South Philadelphia

6. Hegeman

7. Woodland

8. Aqua

9. Uptown

10. Polish American

11. Avalon

12. Ferko

13. Greater Kensington

14. Quaker City

15. Pennsport

16. Duffy

17. Fralinger

2012 SugarHouse Casino PHL17 Viewer’s Choice Awards

The winners of the 2012 SugarHouse Casino PHL17 Viewer’s Choice Poll have been announced at SugarHouse Casino.  Hundreds of Mummers were on hand to cheer the top finishers and enjoy the hospitality of SugarHouse.  The place was Mummin’. Woodland String Band, showing the class and polish it’s always had, serenaded the gathered as they awaited the results.  And, the results are:  Finishing 1^st in the eyes and ears of the viewer’s in 2012 are South Philadelphia String Band and South Philly Vikings. This is the 7th year the viewers have been selecting their favorites in the String Band Division and the 3rd year they have been choosing their winners in the Fancy Brigade Division.

South Philadelphia String Band with its “A Tune Full of Sugar” theme wowed the viewers of the String Band Division.  The costuming and performance satisfied every sweet tooth out there.  Captain Denny Palandro delivered another solid display of showmanship.  Congratulations to Jim Browne and all at South Philadelphia.  Your confection was infectious.   SPSB also won the coveted “Custard’s Last Stand” award. That will be formally handed out at the String Band Association banquet.

Here’s the the rest of the Viewer’s Choice top 5 in the String Band Division.

Coming in 2^nd with the viewers is Woodland String Band, which took 1^st Prize in the official judging with its jungle theme.   3^rd goes to Quaker City.  Ferko finishes 4^th and Fralinger, 5^th.

In the Fancy Brigade Division, South Philly Vikings won the SugarHouse Casino PHL17 Viewer’s Choice Poll with its theme “Ka’Light’Oscope: Harness The Power of the Spectrum.”  This trend-setting brigade broke new ground again with its electrifying visual artistry.  SPV also won the official judging on New Year’s Day.  Vikings Captain Pete D’amato also took 1st prize in the official judging for Captain. 

Finishing second tonight in the determination of the viewers is Bill McIntyre’s Shooting Stars and in 3^rd place, Golden Crown.

And in a wonderful display of commitment and community spirit, SugarHouse Casino not only hosted this year’s awards ceremony, but it also donated a total of $5,000 to the Mummers Museum, $2,500 dollars in the name of each winner, South Philly Vikings and South Philadelphia String Band.

Emotional Night

Nearly 200 people gathered outside The Epiphany of Our Lord School in South Philadelphia to show how much they love the school and to express hope that a path can be found to keep it open.  The Archdiocese of Philadelphia anounced last Friday that it would be closing nearly 50 elementary and high schools after this school year.  The people who gathered at 13th and Jackson were adults and children.  The adults were parents who have kids at the school now, or had them there before and saw the benefit of it.  There were also alumni and people who did not attend the school but see it as important to the well-being of the community.  Some of those on the scene were also Mummers. I saw folks from the Jester’s and the Vikings.  Sheryl Meccariello, a crossing guard at the school, tells me she had 5 kids go through Epiphany.  In Sheryl’s words, “We’re family here.”  Family was mentioned more than anything else at the rally.  “It’s a family.”  “You love your school, you love your community.”  The crowd was determined not to give up on the school they love. ”It’s more than just business,” said one.  Young Julia Parmisciano, who has experienced her own miracle after getting a heart transplant,  held a sign that read, “Epiphany’s Our Life.”  Whether they have a real chance to change the plans of the Archdiocese is not known.  But, their passion to try is real.  As one child shouted, “They can’t close this school down for nothin’.”