Six groups receive settlement money

U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District, trustees on Tuesday distributed $65,000 from the settlement of a July 2009 racial discrimination complaint to six Philadelphia-area organizations serving minority children.

Each of the six organizations - Boys and Girls Clubs of Philadelphia, Camp Sojourner, Fellowship Farm, Police Athletic League of Philadelphia, Youth United for Change, and Urban League of Philadelphia - received $10,833 for programming that benefits minority youth and combats discrimination.

The funds were set aside in a settlement of a July 2009 racial discrimination complaint filed by Northeast Philadelphia's Creative Steps Daycare against the Valley Club of Huntingdon Valley in Lower Moreland, Montgomery County. The parties to the settlement recommended the organizations.

The complaint, made to the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, alleged that the swim club revoked memberships of the day care's 65 minority children based on their race. The parties subsequently settled, and the club filed for bankruptcy. U.S. Bankruptcy Court officials will distribute the balance of more than $1 million to the children who were parties to the complaint, minus court costs and attorney fees. - Inquirer staff