Joe Conklin, Eddie Bruce headline benefit for Big Daddy Graham at Media Theatre
MEDIA » Iconic bandleader and cabaret artist Eddie Bruce, who has entertained music lovers in this region and beyond for four generations, is among the allstar cast headlining a benefit performance for beloved WIP radio broadcaster and comic Big Daddy Graham on Friday, Dec. 27, at the Media Theatre, 104 E. State St., Media. The benefit and silent auction, presented by fellow broadcaster and comic Joe Conklin, begins at 7:30 p.m.
Big Daddy Graham has been dealing with health issues for a few months now, stemming from a spinal bleed that resulted in partial paralysis. Big Daddy’s friends in the entertainment industry have rallied for this big benefit performance and silent auction to raise money to help him and his family pay for the ongoing medical costs.
In addition to Eddie Bruce, performances at this gala include David Uosikkinen of The Hooters, The Young Rumblers’ Tommy Conwell, comic Jimmy Shubert from “Last Comic Standing,” The Legendary WID, cameos from WIP’s Ray Didinger and Al Morganti (among others), and the host himself, Joe Conklin.
Big Daddy Graham has been performing comedy for over 35 years at clubs, colleges, corporate and private parties, as well as banquets and fundraisers. Graham’s show, “Two Funny Philly Guys,” with fellow comedian Joe Conklin, has played in theaters such as the 1,000 seat Borgata Music Box in Atlantic
City and The Broadway Theater in Pitman, N.J. He has also appeared on Showtime, MTV, A&E, and has been voted Philadelphia’s funniest comedian by Philadelphia Magazine and other publications a total of 15 times.
Graham has also supported eighteen members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, including Ray Charles, Smokey Robinson, and B.B. King. For over two decades, Graham has been a full-time host on sports talk radio station 94 WIP. He was also a co-host on 1210 AM’s “The Sports Attack” with Scott Graham and Neil Hartman, where he interviewed sports personalities.
In 2014, Graham began recording a podcast, “Big Daddy Graham’s Classic Rock Throwdown,” on Wildfire Radio. As of August 2017, he has recorded over 170 episodes, counting down songs as they relate to a particular topic each week.
For tickets, visit mediatheatre.org or call 610-891-0100.
MLK Day ‘Hoops from the Heart’ benefits Community Action Agency of Delaware County
Four area colleges and their men’s and women’s hoop teams are joining together to host the 19th Annual “Hoops from the Heart” Basketball Youth Clinics on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Young players across the county will drive to the hoop to raise funds and food donations for the Community Action Agency of Delaware County Inc., a social service agency that helps families and individuals to move toward self-sufficiency.
Called “Hoops from the Heart,” the MLK Day of Service
initiative was started in 2002 at Haverford High School and has since raised over $130,000 for Community Action Agency programs that serve low-income residents in Delaware County.
Cabrini University in Radnor and Haverford College in Haverford will host the clinics from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and Neuman University in Aston and Widener University in Chester will host from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
The college and university men’s and women’s basketball teams and coaches will run the clinics.
The clinics, open to boys and girls in grades one through eight, will cover all aspects of fundamental play. Each player who preregisters will get a complimentary T-shirt. Cost for the clinic ranges from $20 - $30, depending on which school is hosting the clinic.
In addition, each athlete is asked to donate one or two non-perishable food item that will go to the Life
Center of Eastern Delaware County, one of the agency’s emergency housing programs. The Life Center is located at 63rd and Market streets, Upper Darby, and houses 50 homeless individuals and serves over 150 residents each year. The Life Center also operates a feeding program that serves 150 - 200 people daily.
All proceeds raised from the basketball clinics benefit agency programs, which include emergency housing, social services, employment training and life skills training. In addition to operating shelters for individuals and families, the agency also provides many vital services including welfare-to-work programs, and food and fuel assistance.
For information about the
19th Annual “Hoops From the Heart” event, contact Sharon Grasty at the agency at 610-874-8451.
To register, access online forms available online at each school’s website, or call Haverford College coach Bobbi Morgan at 610446-9397; Neumann University Athletic Director Chuck Sack at 484-840-4711; Widener University coach Alisa Kintner at 610-499-4476; or Cabrini University coach Kate Pearson at 610-9021016.
Davidson hosts annual Eggnog Sip Friday
State Rep. Margo Davidson, D-164 of Upper Darby, will hold her 10th annual Eggnog Sip 1 to 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 27. The representative is celebrating ten years of public service in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
The informative and entertaining party will be held at Davidson’s new office in the Barclay Shopping Center, 1500 Garrett Road, Upper Darby. The office is next to the Fine Wines and Good Spirits store.
The free open house-style event will be a chance for Davidson to personally engage with neighbors while they enjoy refreshments, including eggnog. This tradition highlights constituent services that are available, including the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program, unclaimed property, home heating aid, and more.
The office will be collecting canned food and nonperishable items for people in the community.
For more information, call Davidson’s office at 610259-7016.
Delaware County Technical High School receives equipment grant
State Reps. Leanne Krueger, D-161 of Nether Providence and David Delloso, D-162 of Ridley Park, announced that Delaware County Technical High School was awarded a
$50,000 state grant for the purchase of new equipment.
The grant was part of nearly $1.2 million in competitive grants awarded by the Pennsylvania Department of Education to 32 Career and Technical Centers and Area Vocational-Technical Education Schools around the state for the purchase of new equipment aligned to training students in high-demand occupations.
Items to be purchased with the grant include automotive and welding equipment. The maximum grant allowed under the program is
$50,000, and each grant must be matched dollar-for-dollar from a local source, which could include local school funds or contributions from business and industry partners.
Prospect Park Town Watch helps local families
For the sixth consecutive year, the Prospect Park Town Watch has sponsored a very successful community toy drive. With guidance from Prospect Park School Counselors and the generosity of many community members, 21 children from nine local families will wake up on Christmas morning to gifts of Barbies, scooters, bikes, sports equipment and other toys as well as clothing and gift cards.
Local businesses that donated generously include Tony of EZ Living Concepts, Dr. Mark Snyder of ShoreSnyder Dental Center, Triangle Towing, Village Styling, Tom’s Auto & Sons, and Hi-Tek Professional Inc. Others who made the annual toy drive successful include Prospect Park Council, the Prospect Park Police and Fire Departments and all the community residents who donated and/or helped.
Prospect Park Town Watch held its first-ever Pet Photo with Santa fundraising event to support the drive and over fifty people came, with more than 60 pets, to the Park Square gazebo for photos. For more information about volunteer opportunities with Prospect Park Town Watch, email PPTWtoydrive@gmail. com.