As we mark the end of the 2022-2023 season, we celebrate all that YOU have accomplished. With your support, we were able to plan fun and informative events, provide networking opportunities, and increase our financial support for local students pursuing degrees in communications.
Our committees and directors worked hard to present a variety of both informative media-related topics and entertaining speakers over the past six months. Here’s a recap:
December
Members came out big time in support of our Holiday Luncheon and Raffle at Fava Ristorante with award-winning broadcast journalist Pat Ciarrocchi. Pat conducted an exclusive interview with Linda Hoffman Rydell, the first since the passing of her husband, singer and actor Bobby Rydell. Talented young singer Tommy C., The Voice of Tribute, premiered a music video, a new version of Bobby Rydell’s pop hit “Sway,” which brings him and Rydell together for a posthumous duet.
Our only fund raiser, the annual Gift Basket raffle, this year featured a new twist: a silent auction New Jersey shore getaway! The raffle raised over $600 for our Annual Excellence in Communications Award.
January
We kicked off 2023 with a Happy Hour and screening of the short film “Parrot” in association with Red Flight Pictures and Media Arts Council. After networking and light hors d’oeuvres, members joined the film’s local director Kyle B. Thompson and his multi-award-winning team of filmmakers for in-depth Q&A and discussion.
February
We celebrated not only Lunar New Year but also Black History Month at Margaret Kuo’s Kitchen. Special guest and longtime Press Club member Paul A. Bennett, publisher, The Spirit Newspaper, offered his insights into the importance of local journalism. Our second guest, Richard Blye, Juneteenth Artistic Collaborative Experience of Delco, shared how his committee played an important role in bringing recognition of Juneteenth to Delaware County.
March
The Press Club visited Delco's only sports museum, the Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum. Led by Jim Vankoski and Rich Pagano, we toured the seven galleries with permanent collections displaying personal memorabilia from Delco Athletes in their respective specialized fields then enjoyed a casual lunch.
April
PHL17 celebrity broadcasters Jenna Meissner and Monica Cryan, the Delco Duo, joined us for Happy Hour at Sligo. The Duo, local women with long careers in television journalism, shared with us how they dispense advice on life, love, relationships, and real-world problems to questions submitted by viewers.
May
Kentucky Derby themed headwear was a fun feature of our “Big Hats & Fast Horses” End-of-Season Luncheon at Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino & Racetrack. Special guest Damon Feldman, Official Celebrity Boxing founder, shared his life journey that led him to his celebrity entertainment boxing events that are gaining popularity nationally. He presented a Championship belt to Press Club Past President Peg DeGrassa.
We topped off our day with a fun Kentucky Derby Best Hat award and were pleased to meet this year’s Annual Award in Communication Excellence recipient, Anthony Pietrewicz from Cabrini University.
Other year-end business:
Current Board members continuing their first two-year term:
Rev. Leonard Carroll
Pam Mariani, Valley View Golf
Diane McNitt, McNitt Marketing
Martin Milligan, Effective Cost Based Management (ECBM)
Marguerite DeGrassa
Board Members concluding their second two-year term in current position:
Andrea DiFabio, AD Communications
Dave Sibley, On Video
Lisa Roberts Cadorette, Cadorette Communications
Joe Morinelli, Radio Voice Italia
Supporting Education in Communications, our 2023 endowed scholarship recipients are:
Jack and Florence Steck Memorial Scholarship
Kristen Kanuika
Robert Finucane Memorial Scholarship
Liam Higgins
Charles Crist Memorial Scholarship
Megan Machalia Grant
In addition to the endowments, we were pleased to announce that we are awarding TWO Annual Awards in Communications Excellence: one to Cheyney University AND one to Eastern University. Funded with proceeds from the Holiday Gift Basket Raffle and other Club events, the awards totaled $1,000 each. This award rotates among seven universities in Delaware County.
In addition to the annual awards, the Club made donations to Catholic Charities Appeal, Delaware County Veterans Memorial, and Westminster Presbyterian Church.
A huge THANK YOU to our members and our outstanding Board of Directors who helped make it happen! Thanks for being part of our incredible organization!