Philadelphia, PA, OCTOBER 18, 2016 – CORA Services has named PA State Representative John Taylor their 2016 Civic Champion. The award will be presented at CORA’s 45th Annual Champions for Children Celebration on Tuesday, November 22, 2016 at the Union League of Philadelphia. CORA will recognize three local “Champions” that evening – Univest Bank and Trust Co. has been named the Corporate Champion and Christian Brown, a senior at Father Judge High School, will receive the Classroom Champion Award and a $1,000 scholarship from CORA Services.
CORA’s Champion Awards are presented each year at the Champions for Children Celebration to recognize individuals and organizations who have been instrumental in partnering with CORA Services to create a brighter future for children and families in the Philadelphia region.
Since his election in 1984, Representative John Taylor from the 177th Legislative District has worked diligently serving Philadelphians, ensuring their safety, and providing opportunities for them to prosper. Of significant importance to CORA, Representative Taylor has sponsored and supported meaningful legislation regarding drug and alcohol use, and most recently, led the House’s efforts to secure the future of Recovery High Schools for youth.
According to Mary Doherty, Managing Director of the Community Services Division at CORA Services, “John Taylor epitomizes what it means to be a “legislator” and “representative for the people” of the Commonwealth in today’s world. He is tireless in his advocacy for rights and opportunities for all, he is a coalition builder in Philadelphia and in Harrisburg and he is truly a champion for children, families and communities.”
The Corporate Champion Award is presented to an organization that has been an advocate for CORA Services and the communities it serves. Univest Bank and Trust Co. has been a generous longtime supporter of CORA’s events through sponsorship and volunteerism (Univest continued the philanthropic support over the last few years which was started by Valley Green Bank and Fox Chase Bank, two entities acquired by Univest in 2015 and 2016 respectively). At the heart of everything they do, Univest holds true to five core values: Tradition, Integrity, Excellence, Community and Spirituality. All of these principles mirror all that our foundress, Sister Charity Kohl held most dear, and are what has continued to drive CORA’s expansion. Annually, Univest contributes more than $1.5 million to the communities it serves and its employees volunteer more than 17,600 hours.
The Classroom Champion Award recognizes a local student who has overcome significant challenges to attain outstanding scholastic achievements. Despite having faced serious adversity, Christian Brown, Father Judge H.S. Senior, has excelled tremendously in and out of the classroom. Christian has been legally blind since birth and lost his father at age 8. He was recognized by Dan Rogan, a CORA counselor at Judge, as a student who has exemplified the qualities of faith, compassion, optimism, courage and call to service. True to CORA’s mission of assisting local children and families, Christian will receive scholarship for his future educational expenses.
Since 1971, CORA Services has been helping youth and families in the Philadelphia region. CORA’s mission is to help those facing academic or social challenges by delivering support and creating opportunities for sustainable growth and development. Today, CORA serves more than 16,000 children and families every year, guided by the words of its foundress, Sister Charity Kohl, “Children are the Heart of the Matter.” In partnership with more than 200 schools throughout Philadelphia, Chester County and Camden, CORA provides academic support, school counseling, occupational therapy, speech and language services, psychological services, truancy services and student assessment programs. CORA also offers individual and family counseling, mental health treatment, substance use services, teen/young adult pregnancy services, intensive prevention services, early intervention, after-school and summer programs, and preschool education. For more information, visit www.coraservices.org or call (215) 342-7660.
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