City reaches its goal, raising enough money to open all pools this summer
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City reaches its goal, raising enough money to open all pools this summer
With a six-figure donation from First Niagara Bank, the city has reached its goal of opening all of its pools this summer.
Officials of First Niagara, headquartered in upstate NY, which recently opened branches in the Philadelphia region, presented the city with a check this morning for $400,000 at a confetti-filled press conference held at Sacks Pool on the 400 block of Washington Avenue.
It is the largest donation the city has received toward its Splash and Summer Fund, a fundraising campaign launched last year to keep more city pools open.
Last summer, due to a budget shortfall, the city closed 27 of its 72 outdoor pools leaving residents in some neighborhoods to complain why some pools were allowed to open while others remained shut.
This summer, the city started a campaign to raise $600,000 to open every pool. Many neighborhood groups started fundraising to help reach that goal.
As of last month, through community-organized efforts such a 3-on-3 men's basketball tournament, a talent show, and the most creative, cow-chip bingo; and donations from big companies, the city had raised $250,000 toward its target.
Today's check from First Niagara, put the city over the top. The additional money will be carried over to next year's budget, said Parks and Recreation Department spokesman Alain Joinville.
The bank will also give $250,000 in grants so that 35 YMCA branches across Eastern Pennsylvania can offer free swimming lessons.
Mayor Michael Nutter called the donation "a shining example" of how corporate partnerships can "better the lives of those living in our city."
City pools are scheduled to begin opening June 18.
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Re-Election gambit by Mayor Nutter. He couldn't care less about the kids and public....only his job- Comment removed.
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Does that mean Valley Swim Club can open back up? THE SALE IS OFF! CANCEL THE CHECK!— The Pope
You wht people log on every day with your racist remarks about blks and latinos, how your so much better then the entire race. Yet once the warm weather arrives you spend hours and hours baking yourselves in the sun to look like them..!! LMAO...bunch of morons...— Amazed_byUr_Ignorance
Wait a minute that's not a "Baby Ruth" floating in the pool— K_Ball- if you want to swim for free, go to a lake, otherwise buy a pool or a membership, like the rest of the world!I LOVE THE 'BURBS!— fens219
- Free pools have been an entitlement in this city. There is no way the "citizens" are going to pay for something that has been free (to them) and after what happened at the Valley Swim club - NO ONE in their right mind would ever BUY a pool in the city to operate as a business.— gone with the wind
- @Amazed_byUr_Ignorance you hit the nail right on the head!! Im glad the paper has disabled comments on many of their articles. There are so many other productive things people could do than bash one another and talk about how they are better than the minorities on an anonymous forum. Where is your positive contribution in life?— Iluv2read
- Amazed_byUr-Ignorance - Exactly. Smelling like wet dogs at that! YUCK!— jackpaul
Kia Gregory is a staff writer for the Philadelphia Inquirer. She's a proud native of the city and an alumna of Temple University. Contact Kia by e-mail by clicking here, or by phone at 215-854-2601.
Vernon Clark, a staff writer for the Philadelphia Inquirer, has reported extensively neighborhood issues in North and Northwest Philadelphia. Vernon has also been an editor for the Inquirer and has worked as an editor and writer at the Boston Globe and Akron Beacon Journal. Contact Vernon by e-mail by clicking here, or by phone at 215-854-5717.
