On Tuesday, August 16, the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority hosted a backpack drive to provide 200 backpacks with supplies to students in foster care through Methodist Family Support Services.

The effort was held in collaboration with the Center's venue management partner, ASM Globa l; Methodist Services; and Foster Angels on Earth, and is an initiative of ASM Global ACTS, a corporate social responsibility platform launched in 2021.

"The Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority, as a steward of the public good, is committed to working with our partners to lead initiatives that foster community development and drive economic prosperity for the greater Philadelphia region," said John J. McNichol, President and CEO, Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority. "The mission of the Authority is strongly aligned with the objectives of ASM Global ACTS, and we are proud to collaborate on efforts, such as the backpack drive, that have a meaningful impact on the communities that we serve."

The goals of ASM Global ACTS are focused on three key pillars - protect the environment, invest in people, and strengthen our communities - and the program reinforces the Pennsylvania Convention Center's commitment to serving the communities where it operates. At the event, 25 volunteers, including members from the Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania, packed the backpacks with much needed school supplies donated by the Center's staff, vendor partners, and labor union partners.

"One of our objectives at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, under the ASM Global ACTS initiative, is to encourage and promote staff volunteerism," said Kelvin D. Moore, Regional Vice President, ASM Global and General Manager at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. "Through our strong community partnerships, the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority and ASM Global are creating more opportunities for our team to meaningfully engage our communities and provide the support that so many in the greater Philadelphia region need." 

"Providing services to children and families for over 140 years, Methodist Services is thrilled to be able to work collaboratively with the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority, ASM Global, Foster Angels On Earth and other community partners to provide 200 backpacks full of age-appropriate school supplies for Methodist Services' children and families, formerly unhoused," said Anne Rice-Burgess, President and CEO, Methodist Services/Methodist Home for Children. "Our parents want what we all want for our children: to begin a new school year, prepared with the very best supplies; to navigate a pandemic-influenced year which may include virtual, hybrid, and in-person classes; and to remain as safe and ready as possible! On behalf of the 200 families who will happily receive these generous donations, we send our gratitude to all involved!"

For more information on the Pennsylvania Convention Center's community engagement and outreach initiatives, visit paconvention.com .

About the Pennsylvania Convention Center

The Pennsylvania Convention Center is located in Center City Philadelphia at the heart of the city's many cultural offerings and world-class dining and entertainment scene. Managed by ASM Global, the Center is the 14th largest facility in the nation and features one of the largest exhibit spaces and ballrooms in the Northeastern U.S. The meetings, conventions, trade shows, and other events hosted by the Center attract attendees from across the country and around the world to Philadelphia, making the facility the largest economic driver of the region's hospitality industry.

For more information, visit  www.paconvention.com .