Local Politicians to Attend New Community Center Groundbreaking in North Philadelphia

Local politicians to attend as Mercy Neighborhood Ministries in the Tioga section of Philadelphia breaks ground on March 24, 2007 for its new "green" family center. The center, the first "green" building in North Philadelphia, will provide increased space for the ministry's services to the working poor.

Philadelphia, PA, March 22, 2007 --(PR.com)-- Local politicians and other notable Philadelphians are planning to attend Saturday’s (March 24) groundbreaking ceremonies from 10 a.m. to noon for the Mercy Family Center in North Philadelphia. The center, which will serve the working poor in the Tioga section of Philadelphia, is being created by Mercy Neighborhood Ministries Inc. of Philadelphia. The center is located at 1939 West Venango St., Philadelphia, PA 19140.

Among those politicians slated to attend are Senator Shirley Kitchen (D) of Senate District 3, Representative Rosita Youngblood (D) of Philadelphia County and Philadelphia Councilwoman Donna Reed Miller of the 8th District. Also planning to attend is Robert Bogle, president and CEO of The Philadelphia Tribune.

Mercy Neighborhood Ministries currently is raising $8 million to renovate a once-deteriorated warehouse into a beautiful and dynamic community center—Mercy Family Center. The 33,000-square-foot building, which it owns, will enable the ministry to house all of its programs under one roof and will be fully handicapped accessible.

As the first “green” building in North Philadelphia, the center not only will enable the ministry to increase the number of people it serves but do so in an environmentally friendly and responsible way.  The building will follow the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) protocols of the U.S. Green Building Council (www.usgbc.org) , thereby having less impact on the environment, saving natural resources, recycling building and construction waste where possible and using highly efficient HVAC systems.

“With the Mercy Family Center, Mercy Neighborhood Ministries will be able to increase the services we provide to the community in which we live,” said Sr. Ann Provost, executive director of the ministry. Mercy Neighborhood Ministries currently provides child care, adult day care and adult education/human development programs in a facility with limited space.

More information about the center and the capital campaign is available at http://www.mercyneighbors.org/capitalcampaign.htm. To make a secure gift online visit http://www.mercyneighbors.org/donate.htm.

ABOUT MERCY NEIGHBORHOOD MINISTRIES
Mercy Neighborhood Ministries of Philadelphia Inc., is composed of ministries founded by the Sisters of Mercy from Merion and the Catholic parishes of North Philadelphia stretching over nearly 35 years. Incorporated in 2003, MNM offers direct-service programs to adults and children in the Tioga section of North Philadelphia, a community that suffers from the many problems associated with poverty. Among the Ministry’s programs are before- and after-school child care, adult day care and adult education and human development, including computer classed, nutritional counseling, exercise, social events and much more.

Currently located at 3535 N. 19th Street, MNM has launched a campaign to raise the $8 million needed to transform a deteriorating warehouse at 1939 W. Venango St. into the upcoming Mercy Family Center. A major highlight of the renovation effort is that the building will be the first “green” building in North Philadelphia. “Green” buildings follow protocols developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, creating less impact on the environment, saving natural resources, utilizing natural lighting, recycling building and construction waste, where possible, and taking advantage of highly efficient HVAC systems. Green buildings also provide a healthier work and learning environment and contribute to improved employee and student health, productivity and overall comfort.

The environmentally friendly Mercy Family Center will provide 32,696 square feet of space and will house all of the Ministry’s programs in one building, unlike the current facility. The new building will enable the Ministry to nearly double the current capacity of program participants as well as provide an opportunity for additional and expanded programs. There will be separate entrances for the adult day care and child day care programs, dedicated space for each of the programs, as well as administrative space, and it will be fully handicapped accessible.

For more information on the Mercy Family Center or Mercy Neighborhood Ministries’ programs and services, contact Sr. Ann Provost at 215.227.4393 or by email at aprovost@mercyneighbors.org.

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Mercy Neighborhood Ministries
Sr. Ann Provost
215.227.4393
www.mercyneighbors.org
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