Many attended the First Society of Goalkeepers "Giving for Goodness Sake" event presented by Communities In Schools of Philadelphia, at 10 Arts Bistro & Lounge, located within the Ritz Carlton Hotel. Guests enjoyed delectable dishes, won prizes through raffles and enjoyed music for a good cause. Raffle items were donated by Wells Fargo's Disney on Ice and Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Circus; October Gallery; Ritz Carlton Hotel; Dave and Busters; Cheesecake Factory and more.Proceeds from the event supported academic scholarships, mentoring opportunities and over 25 youth programs.

The Society of Goalkeepers is the newest team of civic innovators. These "philanthropic athletes" are at the top of their game in recognizing community needs and stepping up to the plate by supporting the graduation of youth. "This holiday we are making a list and checking it twice in our effort to ensure our young people have the best possible future we can offer," said Sandra Foster, director of Development and chairperson for the Society of Goalkeepers fundraiser.

Ms. Foster continued, "The money raised by the event will help us to maintain and improve special programs like: Teen Court; Peer Mentoring; Health Tech; Diplomas Now; Student Success Centers; Education Leading to Employment and Career Training (ELECT) Teen Parent Classrooms and more."

Photo caption: Shown are Communities In Schools of Philadelphia Board of Directors: From Back Row left to right: Communities In Schools of Philadelphia President and CEO Martin Nock, Vice President of Human Resources, Thomas Jefferson Univerisity Hospital Kimberly Evans; Pricewaterhouse Coopers LLP, Kim B. Staudt (Retired); Front Row: President of Strategies for Well-Being, LLC Glenn Ellis, Sr.; and the Honorable Levan Gordon,(Retired) Court of Commons Pleas First Judicial District of PA

Members of ELECT (Education Leading to Employment and Career Training) Teen Parent Classrooms joined forces with Philabundance, to deliver 26 turkeys, and canned & boxed items for families in advance of the holiday season.  "As the demand for food resources increases and the supply decreases, it was important for us to support some of our families most in need. Staff from each school came down to get the food boxes and delivered them to students' homes. Central Office staff and field-based staff worked together on this service project to pack the boxes and distribute them from the loading dock  to 26 families," said Jennifer Pitt, assistant director of ELECT.  "One family was chosen because the guardian suffers from multiple medical ailments and the teen is expecting twins."  Pitt added the guardian indicated they could now have a "great Christmas dinner with all the fixings" and the student returned the next day to share her appreciation with staff.

Photo caption: Marcus Godfrey, Assistant Director to ELECT unloads truck of turkeys for families.

Pitt explained, "We have a Philabundance membership because we were awarded Baby Manna Grant funds [that] we use to purchase emergency formula for sites. The membership also allows us to order free/low-cost food. We were able to order free canned goods and baby food along with the turkeys and additional side items at a drastically reduced cost. The entire project was only around $225 to feed 26 families. That's less than $9 per family."

According to Pitt, she chose one particular student because for Thanksgiving they did not have a turkey or anything else that resembled "Thanksgiving Dinner," the student was estatic and said she really appreciate the turkey box.  "I love the ELECT Program and Ms. D,"  she added.   

The gathering started with the children being ushered into the Teddy Bear Tea Party on a red carpet.  Their eyes glistened with joy when they saw the beautifully decorated room in their honor.  Every table was decorated with care and in every seat there was a teddy bear.  Ms. Williams started the festivities by reading the children a story appropriately named, "The Teddy Bear."  Next, the children were served Christmas themed appetizers and water. While the children were eating, they sang along to a collection of Christmas music put together by Williams. The children were able to make gifts for their parents including ornaments, stockings, bell bracelets and miniature reindeer sleighs.  As the gathering cam to an end each child was filled with joy because they got to share their fun time at the Teddy Bear Tea Party with their new friend --their teddy bear. 

The season of giving continued for students at William Dick Elementary School. When the students walked into a beautifully decorated cafeteria, they not only feasted on pizza, cookies, and box drinks, donated by parents, they also received a big surprise from Martin Nock, President and CEO of Communities In Schools of Philadelphia, who spent the day with the students and donated winter coats. The students enthusiastically performed their Harambee Special for him and he watched them make jewelry/trinket boxes, throw pillows, desk top organizers, and Santa Claus and reindeer gift bags. Nock took pictures with them as they tried on their brand new winter coats. The coats were donated from the School District of Philadelphia and Communities In Schools of Philadelphia.

If you are a young mother, who needs counseling or guidance, well, help is available. Time Out for Teens and Tots™ (TTT) is a parenting and support program for teen mothers and their children. TTT offers group sessions that build parenting and peer relationships and foster positive and healthy mother/child relationships, or supportive counseling, mother-only and mother-baby educational and cultural special events and developmental screening for children to identify those who may need early intervention services. The ELECT Program has partnered for many years with Time Out for Teens and Tots, recruiting participants for the after-school sessions held throughout the city. The extended support after-school has been a wonderful opportunity for students to share experiences as parents in a support group format but also have interactive groups every other week with their children.

TTT group sessions are held in five locations throughout the City of Philadelphia.  These services are a component within The Parenting Collaborative, a new initiative (2010) contract program of City of Philadelphia Department of Human Services (DHS).  The TTT series at Audenried will run for 9 weeks every Thursday from 4-6. Students alternate weeks; bringing their babies every other session alternating with a teen parents-only support group session.   

School District of Philadelphia Consultant, Dr. Leroy D. Nunery II; District Attorney, Seth Williams; and State Representative, Tony Payton, Jr. took time out to share their job experiences at a recent Career Exploration Day hosted by Frankford High School, 5000 Oxford Avenue and sponsored by Communities In Schools of Philadelphia Student Success Center. The purpose of the event was to inspire and help guide students at Frankford towards a career path that they can take after high school. Speakers from various career paths were assigned to different classrooms during specific periods to share information and personal experiences with the sophomores, juniors and seniors at the school.

Photo caption: District Attorney Seth Williams; Dr. Leroy D. Nunery II, consultant of the School District of Philadelphia; and Martin Nock, president and CEO of Communities In Schools of Philadelphia.

Guest speakers included: Dr. Leroy D. Nunery II, Consultant  of the School District of Philadelphia; Seth Williams, District Attorney; Tony Payton, Jr., State Representative; Dan Lodise, Chief of Staff for State Representative Brendan Boyle;  and  Shalena Heard, Doctoral Candidate, Gates Millennium Scholar and former graduate of Frankford High School, along with several business owners.