More than 300 people recently attended “We Are LUCY” – an inaugural event designed to raise awareness and funds for LUCY - a Camden-based nonprofit organization that serves as a life-line for at risk Camden City youth. Held at WHYY’s Civic Event Space in Philadelphia, event proceeds will benefit college prep and scholarship support as well as programming needs for youth involved with LUCY.
We Are LUCY featured premium wine and craft beer tasting, donated by Regal Wine Imports, signature cuisine prepared by local chefs and restaurants, including Foodwerx and Tony Clark of Cooper House, and an extensive photography exhibition by Bernard Perry, a travel, landscape and portrait photographer. Phil Martelli, Head Coach of Saint Joseph’s University Hawks men’s basketball team, served as the evening’s emcee/auctioneer. Key event sponsors that made the event possible included Regal Wine Imports, Bernard Perry Photography, Foodwerx, Legacy Advisors and BAYADA Home Health Care.
We Are LUCY volunteer event co-chairs and LUCY Outreach Advisory Board Members, Cynthia Eisen and Margie Laitner, of Moorestown, came up with the unique event concept as a way to formally introduce LUCY in a meaningful and unique way. Since LUCY began in 2008, 100% of its students have graduated from high school and 97% have gone on to college. This incredible statistic is in contrast to the low graduation rate in the city of Camden.
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“I’m so impressed and inspired by Kristin Prinn, LUCY’s Executive Director, and her incredible success with helping Camden youth in so many ways,” says Eisen. “I’ve come to find that once people learn about LUCY, they want to know more and get involved. Thanks to the tremendous support from sponsors, the all-volunteer committee and hundreds of people who attended We Are LUCY, youth will now have much-needed support to help them move forward with their education.”
According to LUCY’s Executive Director Kristin Prinn, “We’re humbled and inspired by the overwhelming generosity and support for the We Are LUCY event and the LUCY program in general. Despite innumerous challenges faced by the youth, challenges that many of us will never confront in a lifetime, they are extremely successful and proud of their accomplishments and beloved city. LUCY has and will continue to play a huge role in that journey.”
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“The college process is exhausting, confusing and overwhelming for your average English-speaking, middle class family with access to college counselors and school supports,” continues Prinn. “For our youth and families this process is literally foreign. To have graduated all 170 high school seniors, and sent 165 on to college, all in a city where about 60% graduate high school and only 5% go on to get a college degree, exemplifies that the work we’re doing and the hours we’re putting in are effective, and life-changing. We believe in these incredible teenagers and because of that, they now believe in themselves.”
For more information about LUCY, visit www.lucyoutreach.org or call Kristin Prinn, executive director, at 856-964-9777 x604. For more information about The Joseph Fund, a nonprofit that raises funds for programs affiliated with St. Joseph’s Pro Cathedral, including LUCY, visit www.josephfundcamden.org or call 856-576-7012.
Photo Captions:
Photo 1- Maggie Laitner, co-chair, LUCY Outreach Advisory Board Member; Cynthia Eisen, co-chair, LUCY Outreach Advisory Board Member; and Bernard Perry, photographer.
Photo 2 - From left to right: Dennis Murphy; Joni Pace; Linda Murphy; and Julia Edelman
Photo 3 - From left to right: Joanne Welsh; Kristin Prinn, executive director of LUCY Outreach; Ray Welsh; and Greg Rose
Photo 4 - From left to right: Luis Martinez, LUCY high school graduate, class of 2009 and St. Joe’s graduate, class of 2013; Denise Salazar, LUCY volunteer since 2012; Kristhy Salazar, LUCY volunteer since 2014; and Jonathan Lopez, LUCY high school graduate, class of 2010 and TCNJ student; class of 2015.
Photo 5 - From left to right: Roxanne DeHart of Foodwerx; Charlie Trivinia of Regal Wine Imports, donor of the wine tasting; and Nick Wall, owner, Foodwerx, the evening’s food donor.
