UCP Press Release: 2008 Pennies For Pounds
CONTACT:
Ilena Di Toro | 215-242-4200, ext. 223 | press@ucpphila.org
FLOURTOWN RESIDENT RAISES OVER $2,000 IN"UPLIFTING" FUNDRAISER
Pennies for Pounds Helps United Cerebral Palsy of Philadelphia & Vicinity
(Philadelphia, September 10, 2008) James Gardner, of Flourtown, took part in the "Pennies for Pounds" fundraiser at LifeSport Fitness Center, located in the Fairmount section of Philadelphia. This is a unique fundraiser where participants collect pledges from family and friends, who then agree to contribute money based on the number of pounds that participants are able to lift. Gardner lifted 480 pounds and raised $2,500. Proceeds from this event benefit United Cerebral Palsy of Philadelphia & Vicinity (UCP).
Gardner has been participating in the fundraiser for five years. Basically, he found out about the event when he joined the gym. "My interaction with Dick [Synder, the owner of the gym] and finding out about his son, led me to help out." Gardner said. (Synder's son has cerebral palsy.)
Dick and Flossie Snyder, proprietors of LifeSport Fitness started "Pennies for Pounds," over 20 years ago as a way to support the mission of UCP. Soon after starting "Pennies for Pounds" the Snyders learned that their, then one-year old son, Todd, had spastic cerebral palsy. As new parents, they enrolled him in a UCP early childhood program and have periodically relied upon UCP for information and additional support services. Over the course of its history, "Pennies for Pounds" has raised close to $43,000 for UCP. This year, 225 LifeSport members participated and over $6,000 was raised for UCP.
United Cerebral Palsy of Philadelphia & Vicinity (UCP) provides services to children and adults with physical and developmental disabilities. Located in the Chestnut Hill section of Philadelphia, UCP offers a variety of social, vocational, residential, recreational, therapeutic, and educational services to individuals and their families living in the Delaware Valley. Each year, UCP of Philadelphia & Vicinity provides direct services to over 2,400 children and adults with disabilities and responds to more than 6,000 requests for information about UCP services, resources for living with disabilities, and referrals to other agencies. To learn more about UCP of Philadelphia & Vicinity, call 215-242-4200 or visit www.ucpphila.org.
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