When
Thursday, October 8, 2015
6 p.m. Reception, 7 p.m. Dinner, 8 p.m. Awards
Where
Union League Golf Club at Torresdale,
3801 Grant Avenue
Philadelphia, PA
What
This event is the perfect introduction to the new Union League Golf Club at Torresdale. As past President of the Union League, Frank Giordano, is honored with the 2015 Helms Award from Goodwill Industries of Southern NJ & Philadelphia at its Goodwill Proud Awards Dinner. Giordano, the President and CEO of both The Philly POPS and Atlantic Trailer Leasing Corp., is being presented the Helms Award for his ongoing commitment to the community and his years of service to Goodwill.
About Frank Giordano’s commitment to Goodwill Industries of Southern NJ & Phila
Mark B. Boyd, President and CEO, Goodwill Industries of Southern NJ & Philadelphia, said, “Having known Frank Giordano personally for many years, I can honestly say that he is one of the most philanthropic people I know. He truly believes in giving back to the community. His long record of volunteerism throughout South Jersey and Philadelphia exemplifies this loud and clear.”
Giordano is humbled by this recognition. He said recently, “For years I have observed the excellent work of Goodwill Industries and I have been proud to support their efforts. It is an honor to receive The Helms Award and I extend my gratitude to Mark Boyd and the board for this recognition.” He added, “It is particularly exciting that it is being presented at the Union League Golf Club at Torresdale, one of the first events in this new beautiful facility.”
Frank Giordano’s Community Commitment
For many years, Giordano has served the public good through his involvement and leadership in iconic Philadelphia and South Jersey institutions and businesses as well as through his personal philanthropy. As a former Chairman of the Board for Goodwill Industries of Southern New Jersey and Philadelphia, he instituted a wide range of programs serving many disadvantaged constituencies. As Chairman of the Abraham Lincoln Foundation, Frank raised over $10 million for the opening of the Sir John Templeton Heritage Center, designed to provide the general public with access to the Union League’s substantial archive of significant historic materials. He has held several chairmanship positions and has a long history in leadership including past President of the Union League. His association of leadership includes such organizations as the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra, IL Convivio, Inc., the Italian Language Initiative, the Philadelphia Business Council for the Consulate General of Italy, Studio Incamminati, Rutgers School of Business Dean’s Leadership Council. He is a board member of the Salvation Army New Jersey State Advisory Board as well as many other area clubs and foundations. He is a Trustee for the Coriell Institute for Medical Research and a Director for the West Jersey Chamber Music Society.
About the Helms Award
Goodwill’s Helms Award is named after its founder, Edgar J. Helms. In 1902, Helms travelled to the wealthier areas of Boston collecting gently-used clothing and other items. Impoverished immigrants then went to work restoring and selling the items in return for wages. This entrepreneurial model of transforming unwanted items into job opportunities for individuals faced with employment barriers remains firmly intact at the 208+ Goodwills across the world. The Helms Award was established by Goodwill Industries of Southern NJ & Philadelphia to recognize a visionary who goes to extraordinary means to improve the quality of life for those living in local communities and in spreading genuine goodwill.
Proceeds from the dinner will fund The Helms Academy. In partnership with Camden County College, Community College of Philadelphia and Drexel University, The Helms Academy offers free general adult education and employment services to help individuals fulfill the necessary academic requirements for a high school diploma while simultaneously earning college credit. The Helms Award Dinner is sponsored by Beneficial Bank, Ron Weiss & Corporate Synergies, The Philly POPS and Atlantic Trailer Leasing Corporation.
About Goodwill Industries of Southern NJ & Philadelphia
Founded in 1948, Goodwill Industries of Southern NJ & Philadelphia is a nonprofit, community-based organization. Its mission is to put people with special needs to work. Revenue from the sale of donated items in Goodwill’s 20+ retail stores fund job training and career services that prepare local residents with disabilities and disadvantages for competitive employment in the community while contributing to America’s recycling efforts. For more information, please call 856/439-0200 or visit www.goodwillnj.org.
About The Philly POPS
The Philly POPS, the largest standalone pops orchestra in the United States, delights audiences with the inspired performance of American popular music. The POPS celebrates this distinctive musical heritage through an expanding repertoire of innovative concert presentations and a robust set of educational and engagement initiatives. Now in its 37th season, the official POPS orchestra of Pennsylvania serves a consistently growing audience of over 75,000 annually. Music Director Michael Krajewski and the 65-person Philly POPS orchestra keeps listeners tapping their toes to an impressive repertoire of songs from the 1920s up through 2015. One day, The Philly POPS is performing Frank Sinatra. The next, Rock ‘n’ Roll. Then, Broadway, ABBA, Billy Joel and on into contemporary chart toppers. The Philly POPS performs as a founding resident company of The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, and at venues throughout the mid-Atlantic region.