RENEWing a South Philadelphia community starts by connecting with residents in need

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Janine S. Domingues-Vasquez PhilMont Nonprofit Development Center (856) 964-6800 jvasquez@pndcenter.org www.pndcenter.org

PHILADELPHIA, PA May 5, 2011 – RENEW Community Development Corporation (RENEW CDC) will host its first “Donate What You Can” Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, June 4th, from 9:30-11:30 a.m. at Consolation Baptist Church, 2500 Wharton St., Philadelphia, to help fight local poverty. The event is designed to feed the hungry and revitalize community engagement at the ground level. Donations raised will be used to fund RENEW CDC programs, including a food pantry, after school program, and daycare center.

“Housing these programs will give us an opportunity to renew our relationship with this community. But more importantly, RENEW is going to give these people a voice. It’s a chance for them to help shape the programs that are going to help them,” said Bishop Alden A. Gaines of Consolation Baptist Church.

In our small South Philadelphia neighborhood, 22% of our residents live below the poverty level. RENEW CDC knows that the key to improving the lives of our neighbors is empowering them to become a part of their own renewal. This event will allow residents to give feedback and guidance in the initial stage of developing these much needed services.

For more information on RENEW Community Development Corporation or PhilMont Nonprofit Development Center please contact Janine Domingues-Vasquez at jvasquez@pndcenter.org or 856-964- 6800.

Consolation Baptist Church (CBC), located in South Philadelphia partnered with PhilMont Nonprofit Development Center (PNDC), a nonprofit organization that addresses the key capacity building needs of local nonprofits to establish RENEW Community Development Corporation (RENEW CDC). RENEW CDC’s mission is to restore and energize our neighborhood by empowering its workforce, families, and communities.

PhilMont Nonprofit Development Center, a nonprofit organization established in 2007 as a 501 (c)(3), is driven by its mission to positively affect communities in the Greater Philadelphia area and surrounding counties by helping local nonprofit organizations increase their capacity, sustainability, and ability to acquire resources.

Consolation Baptist Church is located at 2500 Wharton Street, in Philadelphia and has had a presence in the community for over 40 years. Bishop Alden A. Gaines is the Pastor and Founder of Consolation Baptist Church; he accepted the calling of the ministry in 1965. His mission is still to affect peace and harmony within the community.