by John Podgajny

On Monday, 1/19/15, Easter Seals of SEPA-Philadelphia Division once again was the grateful recipient of assistance from Volunteers from Vanguard Financial Services. Brian Podgajny, Project Coordinator and Team Leader, recruited the Vanguard staff to assist with the Easter Seals project. He was joined by Mike Morrisey, Dennis Hagan, Michael Barr, Adam Wint, Steven Egee and Michael Podgajny. The Vanguard Team was joined by a team from Moon Landscaping (arranged by Ken Dunmire, Account Manager) who donated a chipper and two laborers to dispose of all of the debris. Together with John Podgajny (Division Director) and Rob McNeil (Maintenance), this crew worked for 5 hours to cut, trim and clear overgrown trees, shrubs and brush from the rear property at the Joseph X. Yaffe Center on Conshohocken Avenue in Philadelphia. Their efforts significantly improved the appearance of the property.

This project marks the 2^nd year that Vanguard volunteers have supported Easter Seals in projects for which Easter Seals currently lacks financial resources. This is the 2^nd phase of an effort to clear the entire rear property boundary and restore it to original condition. The expense of a similar project completed several years ago was approximately $3,500! The efforts of the team allowed Easter Seals to direct similar financial resources to the services it provides for the children and families served in the five-County area.

Many thanks to Brian Podgajny and to Kyra Scalea, Project Manager for Culture and Inclusion in Vanguard Human Resources, for their support in registering Easter Seals of SEPA in the Vanguard MLK Day of Service activities. We look forward to hopefully having their help again in 2016!