Philadelphia Chevrolet Dealers and CBS EcoMedia Partner to Support South Philadelphia Youth Baseball Team

June 18, 2014 /3BL Media/ - Philadelphia Chevrolet Dealers have partnered with CBS EcoMedia through its EducationAd program to support The Philadelphia Youth Organization’s (PYO) Anderson Monarchs, an inner city youth baseball team from South Philadelphia.

Philadelphia Chevrolet Dealers’ support will fund restorative and preventative maintenance projects to an authentic 1947 Flxible Clipper Touring Bus which was manufactured the same year that Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball. The funding will enable the 12-year-old members of the Anderson Monarchs to participate in the 2014 Cooperstown All-Star Village Tournament where they will compete against over 40 teams from across the country.

The project will impact an estimated 65 players and 12 coaches annually, contributing to 2,135 service hours for the community.

For decades African Americans, shut out of the major leagues, formed and played in their own leagues - the Negro Leagues. In the offseason, players from the Negro Leagues often boarded buses and "barnstormed" around the country, playing games against town teams, as well as Major League players. The Monarchs’ connection to the bus is significant as they are the only inner-city team, as well as the only predominately African American team in the Cooperstown All-Star Village Tournament.

To pay tribute to Robinson and the Negro Leagues who paved the way for them, the Monarchs will be able to “barnstorm” their way to and from future tournaments on the restored bus, earning the respect and friendship of the opposing players and coaches.

Philadelphia Chevrolet Dealers’ funding will also support the production of an Anderson Monarchs video documentary which will highlight PYO’s story, its youth participants, and serve as inspiration in attracting African American youngsters and adults to the game of baseball.

PYO is an all-volunteer non-profit dedicated to programs that help engage and fill a void for disadvantaged youth in the City of Philadelphia. PYO programs include instructional baseball and soccer leagues, high-level travel baseball and soccer teams, and programs for prospective college students. The primary goal of PYO is to convey the importance and benefits of education to youth participants.

To celebrate the profound impact of this project on the community, an event was held today at the Marian Anderson Recreation Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Notable guests included Paul Polizzotto, Founder and President, CBS EcoMedia; Steve Bandura, Director at PYO; and Dan Ahearn, Chevrolet Zone Manager, Philadelphia Chevrolet Dealers.

Following the remarks, attendees enjoyed a barbeque and students practiced at clinic stations. A tee-ball game game followed the event where the Philadelphia Chevrolet Dealers enjoyed watching students play.

“We, at the Philadelphia Youth Organization, are extremely grateful to CBS EcoMedia and the Philadelphia Chevrolet Dealers for providing our kids with a chance to perform on the national stage, while honoring the legacy of the great Jackie Robinson, and showing the rest of the country what's possible when inner-city kids are given the opportunity to learn and develop to the best of their abilities,” said Steve Bandura, Executive Director, Philadelphia Youth Organization. “It is our sincere hope that, through these platforms, we will inspire others to follow our lead and open more doors for the millions of deserving inner city kids across the country. The impact that CBS EcoMedia and the Philadelphia Chevrolet Dealers will have on our kids, and kids across the nation, is far-reaching.”

“This partnership was a perfect fit for the Philly Area Chevrolet dealers since we’ve been involved with promoting and sponsoring Youth Sports such as baseball and soccer in each of our dealers’ local communities,” said Bill O’Flanagan, President Philly Area Chevrolet Dealers Group. “We are thankful for this opportunity to renovate and repair this historic bus and celebrate the legacy of Jackie Robinson.”

“The Philadelphia Youth Organization is leveling the playing field by providing the Anderson Monarchs the opportunity to learn and develop academically and athletically,” said Paul Polizzotto, Founder and President of CBS EcoMedia. “We thank Philadelphia Chevrolet Dealers for their support of the Monarchs and the Philadelphia community.”

About Philadelphia Chevrolet Dealers
The Philly Area Chevrolet Dealers are proud to fund the restoration and maintenance of the Anderson Monarch’s Touring Bus and support the production of their video documentary.

Their involvement with the Philadelphia Youth Organization is just another example of the Philly Area Chevrolet Dealers commitment to youth sports and their communities. It encourages our youth to find their own roads in life and reinforces the ideals that hard work and education can take them anywhere they dream.

Chevrolet also sponsors the Chevrolet Youth Baseball and Youth Soccer programs, where each dealership is partnered with a youth sports team in their local community. The Philly Area Chevy Group assists Youth Sports  in the communities where their stores are located,  Philly, South New Jersey and Delaware.

About Philadelphia Youth Organization
Founded in 1989, the Philadelphia Youth Organization is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) non-profit based at the Marian Anderson Recreation Center at 17th and Fitzwater Streets. Since the organization’s creation, PYO programs have been filling a void for disadvantaged youth in the City of Philadelphia. PYO programs include instructional baseball and soccer leagues; high-level travel baseball and soccer teams; and programs for prospective college students.

About CBS EcoMedia Inc.
At EcoMedia, we’re propelled by the desire to create positive social change; that’s been our mission since we founded the company in 2002.  In 2010, after successfully partnering with CBS on a wide range of environmental projects, EcoMedia became the newest addition to the CBS Corporation portfolio, exponentially scaling our reach across television, radio, interactive, publishing and outdoor media. 

Through our patent-pending EcoAd, WellnessAd and EducationAd programs, an innovative twist on traditional advertising, advertisers are able to support much-needed local projects which in turn creates jobs, saves taxpayer money and improves the quality of life in communities nationwide.  In the process, we’re fundamentally altering the advertising landscape, elevating the ordinary, traditional commercial – and media, in general – into a catalyst for tangible, quantifiable social change.  Please visit ecomediacbs.com, like us at facebook.com/EcoMediaCBS or follow us at Twitter.com/EcoMediaCBS.

By participating in EcoMedia’s EcoAd, WellnessAd and EducationAd advertising programs, EcoMedia’s advertisers agree to provide funding for projects we believe will have a beneficial effect upon the environment, health and/or education within local communities.  EcoMedia’s advertising programs are not certification programs nor are the EcoAd, WellnessAd or EducationAd logos seals of approval. EcoMedia does not in any way certify, endorse or make any representations about EcoMedia program advertisers, their products or services.