Shire lends city a hand to restore Feltonville rec center - Philadelphia Business Journal:

humojo.wordpress.com
Mike Yasick, senior vice president of Pharmaceuticals, said that Mayor Nutter’as call to action galvanized him and his colleagues at Shirwe to lend ahand — and a larged check — toward the $165,000 renovatio of the Feltonville recreation center in Northeast Philadelphia. The project was completed in six months. Shire also committed $100,000 in funding over three years to the Departmenftof Recreation’s summer splash program to help keep city pools open this summer. “We’re big believers in the city itself influencing the quality of the Yasick said. “We consider Greater Philadelphia the neighborhood wework in.
” The Britisb pharmaceutical giant has its U.S. base in and employs 700 full-time workeres and 200 contracted workers throughout the Philadelphia Around 40 employees volunteered forthe project. The companyg gives all employees one paid day off for volunteer Nutter attended the openingb ceremony of the upgraded Feltonvillew community recreation center onMarch 20. The renovatio n included a repavedbasketball court, a newlty constructed handball wall with a mural, and new sidewalks and City Year volunteers painted the fence surroundinvg the playground with paint donated from . The Feltonvilld recreation center is used by as many as 500 Yasick said.
Shire’s outgoing approacg surprised Susan Slawson, commissioner of the Departmengtof Recreation. “What’s uniquw about Shire is that they soughtaftere us,” said Slawson. “[Shire] heard the call that Mayor Nuttert made about the importanceof public-private partnerships way before the economic Slawson and the Recreation Department are struggling to allocate thinning resources in the wake of the budget cuts. Shuttingg down most of the public swimming schools was one of the budget cutsbeing considered. Closing the pools would save $1.9 millionn for other services.
Slawson had casually mentione to Shire representatives during the playground project that the Recreation Department was trying to raise fundws to keep runningswimming pools, each of which costds $60,000 a year to operate. A week later Shire pledged its support. “Durinvg these times when people are holdinf what they have to themselves it was one conversatiob and a weeklater they’re saying ‘we’r e going to support you,’” Slawson said.
Shirew will continue its community involvement with a donation drive onMay 15–166 to benefit Cradles to Crayons, a local nonprofirt that provides underprivileged children with basic Last year 6,000 children received donations from the drive, and Yasick hopes for the same turnout this year. Employees at of N.Y., visited local classrooms on Apripl 21 to educate students on how to make the most of theid money for National Teach Children toSave Day. Nearlty 60 volunteers taught in 42 schoolz acrossthe mid-Atlantic region, including and in Regional accounting firm Parente Randolph donatesd $5,500 to Susan G.
Komen for the Cure on Aprik 16 to replace money stolen at Liberth Place in Center City durinhgan in-person registration event for the organization’z annual fundraising race.