--PFCU will reveal new course element leading up to the annual event in May--
Philadelphia, Pa., May 7, 2018 –
Philadelphia Federal Credit Union (PFCU) will renew its title sponsorship of the
Philadelphia Federal Credit Union Kensington Derby and Arts Festival for at least three more years and is using this opportunity to infuse new life into the 12th annual community event by unveiling a new course element, which will be located at the intersection of Frankford Avenue, York Street, and Trenton Avenue. PFCU will reveal details about the highly anticipated course feature closer to the May 19 event.
The sculpture derby is a design competition and parade of human-powered floats – “sculptures” – that travels a 3-mile course through the neighborhood. The arts festival – held on Trenton Avenue, stretching from Norris Street to Hagert Street – serves as the start and finish to the parade and attracts more than 200 local arts and food truck vendors, live arts demonstrations, and performances.
PFCU has served as title sponsor of the event since 2015, when it opened its Fishtown branch at 2136 E. Dauphin Street and wanted to support this beloved event in its new neighborhood. Since then, PFCU has played an active role in drumming up anticipation around the derby, including supporting a community beautification project and sponsoring students who wanted to participate.
“We’re deeply invested in the Fishtown and Kensington community and take our renewed commitment to the derby and arts festival to heart. We believe offering a new course concept will engage neighbors and visitors in a whole new way to highlight the spirit of the local community and PFCU’s presence as a neighborhood resource,” said James McAneney, President and CEO of Philadelphia Federal Credit Union.
To bring the new course concept to life, PFCU will enlist the help of the Workshop School – a project-based school in West Philadelphia. In 2017, PFCU sponsored two student teams from the Workshop School, financially backing their spring semester project to create two derby sculptures. PFCU is partnering with the school’s talented team of students again this year by sponsoring the construction of another sculpture, as well as asking students to design a mock-up of what the new course element will look like. The Workshop School will take part in this year’s big reveal at a build day session with PFCU representatives.
The New Kensington Community Development Corporation (NKCDC) and East Kensington Neighbors Association (EKNA) work together to attract local residents, artists, businesses and schools to generate interest in participating in and/or attending the derby.
“We’re thrilled to have the support of the Philadelphia Federal Credit Union for another three years. They’ve been a great partner and we’re looking forward to an even bigger, better, and wackier event. Proceeds advance the community and business development work of NKCDC and EKNA which makes PFCU’s partnership a win-win for the neighborhood,” said Felix Torres-Colon, Executive Director of NKCDC.
“Almost every time a new member joins the East Kensington Neighbors Association, they tell us they first learned about the neighborhood, or even sometimes made the decision to move here, because of the Derby and Arts Fest. We're so excited to continue working with NKCDC and PFCU to show even more people how special this neighborhood is because of this event," said Madison Graboyes, President of the East Kensington Neighbors Association.
About Philadelphia Federal Credit Union
Founded in 1951, PFCU is a member-owned, not-for-profit financial institution serving Philadelphia and Columbia County, Pa. PFCU is among the top five credit unions in the Greater Philadelphia area, with 11 branch locations, more than $1 billion in assets, 116,000 members, and more than 400 Select Employee Groups (SEGs). PFCU returns its profits to members in the form of higher dividend rates, lower loan rates, better services, and investment in the community. For more information, visit
www.pfcu.com and connect with PFCU on
Facebook and
Twitter.
About New Kensington Community Development Corporation
NKCDC's mission is to strengthen the physical, social, and economic fabric of the community by being a catalyst for sustainable development and community building. For more information, visit
www.nkcdc.org and connect with NKCDC on
Facebook and
Twitter.
About East Kensington Neighbors Association
EKNA was founded in 2004 with help from the community organizing arm of the NKCDC. EKNA’s mission is to organize the voice, concerns, and actions of East Kensington residents. Geographically, East Kensington is bound by Norris Street to the south, Frankford and Trenton avenues to the east, Lehigh Avenue to the north, and Front Street/Kensington Avenue to the west. For more information, visit
www.ekna.org.
Media Contact:
Brownstein Group for PFCU
Liz Mazanek
Office: 267-238-4137
emazanek@brownsteingroup.com