Dear Giving Circle members and friends,

I hope you’re enjoying your summers! While things always slow down this time of year, as everyone takes time to enjoy their summer vacations, we’re beginning to plan for next year and have a few other updates for you.

First, we’ve made two grantee check presentations, to Kensington Soccer and 12 Plus, to celebrate in a more tangible way the wonderful organizations receiving our grants this year. We’re planning the other two presentations, to ASAP and YASP, later this summer or early fall. There’s more information about these great events, plus pictures and links, below.

As you know, we’re planning to have a focus area in 2024 that will drive both our grant making as well as our programming for next year. Thank you to all who responded to our survey question about areas of interest to you. We’ll be gathering those results and plan to announce our decision shortly.

And, last, but definitely not least, we’re gearing up for our Annual Membership Meeting planned for early November. We look forward to seeing you all there. Our members are the heart of the Giving Circle and our most important resource. We welcome your participation in any way that works for you.



With appreciation,

Linda Senker, Chair, TTN Philadelphia Giving Circle

We have been awarding checks to our 2023 grantees . . . .



SPENDING THE DAY WITH KENSINGTON SOCCER

Carol Cunningham and Barbara Lissy, members of the Giving Circle Executive Council, were delighted to attend "Spring Family Day" and present a "ceremonial" check representing the $30,000 grant awarded to Kensington Soccer.

Family Fun Days are a longstanding tradition for Kensington Soccer and these days are central to the organization's values. They provide an opportunity for the community to celebrate the accomplishments of these young athletes, their families and their dedicated volunteers. A short video was created this year by Americorps VISTA videographer, Derrick Hogue, to capture the event. Video. At each Fun Day event there is an opportunity for other community groups to be present as well and truly live up to the tagline for Kensington Soccer . . . Philadelphia Community Empowerment through Soccer.

Carol and Barbara particularly noted that free books (new ones) were available to each child participating and over 350 books were distributed at this event. It was wonderful to have this literacy element as a central part of this day.



The Giving Circle looks forward to working with Kensington Soccer during the year of their grant. To learn more about Kensington Soccer, click here.

Raymond thanked the TTN Giving Circle for the grant and had a chance to discuss his vision for the future and the challenges that nonprofits continue to face. As part of our efforts to place more emphasis on ‘Trust-Based Philanthropy,” we will be working with 12 Plus this year as well as the other grant recipients to forge a strong relationship and help these nonprofits as they serve their communities.

Each of the nonprofits will identify a member of their organization to be a "honorary" member of the Giving Circle and participate in all our events including the grants process.  We look forward to these partnerships and the opportunity to learn from each other as we work together.

To learn more about 12 Plus, click here.

Susan is an active member of TTN and last November even participated in the TTN Civil Rights tour to Atlanta, Montgomery, Selma and Birmingham. She is also a member of the Giving Circle and has been a valued contributor to the GC programming committee. Susan has a background in employee benefits and retired recently from Conner, Strong and Buckelew, an insurance, employee benefits and risk management firm.

Karen has been a member of the Giving Circle since 2016 and a member of TTN since 2014. Her professional experience was primarily in the field of technology sales and consulting. In the nonprofit world, she has been the board chair of The Scout House, a historic building that provides a place for scouts and other youth groups to meet, and served as a board member and chair of the development committee of the Fleisher Art Memorial.

We thank Karen and Susan for stepping up and we look forward to the events they are already beginning to plan!

Check back here periodically for new volunteer opportunities with TTN.