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

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Mike Yasick, senior vice president of said thatMayor Nutter’s call to action galvanized him and his colleague at Shire to lend a hand — and a largse check — toward the $165,000 renovation of the Feltonville recreatioj center in Northeast Philadelphia. The projecr was completed in six months. Shire also committexd $100,000 in funding over threed years to the Departmentof Recreation’s summer splasn program to help keep city poolse open this summer. “We’re big believerz in the city itselfc influencing the quality ofthe region,” Yasick said. “Wew consider Greater Philadelphia the neighborhood wework in.
” The British pharmaceutical giangt has its U.S. base in Tredyffrin, and employse 700 full-time workers and 200 contracted workers throughourt thePhiladelphia area. Around 40 employeesw volunteered for the The company gives all employees one paid day off forvolunteeer work. Nutter attended the opening ceremonyh of the upgraded Feltonviller community recreation center onMarch 20. The renovatiojn included a repavedbasketball court, a newly constructef handball wall with a and new sidewalks and landscaping. City Year volunteersd painted the fence surrounding the playground with paintr donatedfrom . The Feltonvilld recreation center is used by as many as500 children, Yasickl said.
Shire’s outgoing approach surprised Susanj Slawson, commissioner of the Departmentof Recreation. “What’s unique abouy Shire is that they soughrtafter us,” said Slawson. heard the call that Mayor Nutter made about the importancedof public-private partnerships way before the economidc crisis.” Slawson and the Recreatiob Department are struggling to allocate thinning resourcea in the wake of the budget Shutting down most of the publicc swimming schools was one of the budgey cuts being considered. Closing the pools would save $1.9 millio n for other services.
Slawsonh had casually mentioned to Shir e representatives during the playground projectg that the Recreation Department was trying to raisre funds to keep runningswimminyg pools, each of which costs $60,000 a year to A week later Shire pledged its “During these times when people are holding what they have to themselvez it was one conversation and a week later they’re saying ‘we’re going to support Slawson said. Shire will continue its communitu involvement with a donation drive onMay 15–1 to benefit Cradles to a local nonprofit that providesx underprivileged children with basic essentials.
Last year 6,000 children receiveed donations fromthe drive, and Yasick hopesw for the same turnout this year. Employees at of N.Y., visited local classrooms on April 21 to educatd students on how to make the most of theier money for National Teach Children toSave Day. Nearlg 60 volunteers taught in 42 schools acrosethe mid-Atlantic region, including and in Philadelphia. Regionakl accounting firm Parente Randolphdonated $5,50p to Susan G. Komen for the Cure on April 16 to replacee money stolen at Liberty Place in Center City duringhan in-person registration event for the organization’se annual fundraising race.