At the Consortium of Cecil B. Moore Organization’s annual meeting, the Alston Beech Foundation gave 21 organizations working in North Philadelphia money to keep doing what they do best.
By Denise Clay
North Philadelphia, in case you haven’t noticed, is undergoing a bit of a renaissance.
New construction is going on. New people are moving in. There is art and business and different things happening in that section of the city.
Last week, 21 non-profit organizations that are directly responsible for this renaissance were honored by the Alston Beech Foundation during the Consortium of Cecil B. Moore Organization’s semi-annual meeting held at the Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz and Performing Arts in South Philadelphia.
In addition to live music and a delicious lunch, the organizations were given grants by the foundation to support them in the work that they do for North Philadelphians. About 100 organizations applied for the grants, which could be used for anything from a specific program to the organization’s daily operating needs, said Ken Scott, president and CEO of the Beech Corporation.
As the Alston Beech Foundation, named for Beech Corporation founder and former president of the Philadelphia School Board Floyd Alston, begins to celebrate a milestone in its history, it wanted to make sure to give the community organizations that have been instrumental in that history a moment in the sun, Scott said.
“This is the kickoff for our 30th anniversary celebration next year,” he said. “We’re one of the few Black organizations that does this kind of work.”
State Sen. Sharif Street, whose district includes North Philadelphia, was on hand to praise the organizations for the work they do with children, seniors and everyone in between. He also praised Alston Beech for helping them make the waves they do.
“You make an impact, you make change and you stabilize your communities,” Street said. “You not only help kids stay out of trouble, you do things like create intergenerational housing. And the fact that Alston Beech is giving back to these programs is important.”
The foundation gives away grants twice a year and the next group of applications is due in April.
Here is a list of this Alston Beech grantees:
*Affordable Housing Centers of Pennsylvania;
*African American United Fund/Urban Affairs Coalition;
*BEBASHI-Transition to Hope;
*Big Picture Philadelphia;
*Blackhawks Athletic Club;
*Center In The Park;
*Center In The Park;
*Community Center At Visitation;
*The Clay School;
*Grands As Parents;
*Je Suis Beni;
*Menzfit;
*Musicopia;
*North Broad Renaissance;
*Philadelphia Clef Club of Frontiers International, Inc.;
*Scribe Video Center, Inc.;
*The Business Center;
*The Leaders In Training Sports Mentorting Program;
*The Urban Affairs Coalition;
*Tree House Books;
*Uptown Entertainment and Development Corporation.
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