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The Wells Fargo Center is looking at many empty nights this fall thanks to the bitter labor dispute between the NHL and NHL Players’ Association. It seems the two sides are having a tough time figuring out how to split more than $3 billion in revenue (there is too much greed on both sides to simply slice the pie in half).
Who knows when the bickering will end, as the only sure thing for now is that the first two weeks of the regular season (all games through Oct. 24) have been wiped off the slate.
The 2012-13 Philadelphia Flyers schedule may have been yanked from this week’s Fall Guide, but this issue is still packed with plenty of people — 25 to be exact — worth talking about. These Difference Makers are local residents or workers who go above and beyond the call of duty to assist others. Many of them are performing these kind acts on a volunteer basis simply out of the goodness of their hearts.
They’re not doing it for a big payday or the attention — several of the honorees were actually a little shocked when they received word that they’ve made this distinguished list. Their peers and colleagues submitted letters explaining why their nominee belongs in this third-annual issue.
I recently paid a morning visit to the St. John’s Emanuel Church, 1332 S. Third St., where Bennie and Hilda Hudson were setting up their tables to distribute produce, bread and other daily essentials free of charge to families young and old.
Duane Davis, the founder and director of Rise1, a youth and community development center at 1442 S. 22nd St., has made such a lasting impression on his young students that they put together a letter-writing campaign to make sure their mentor would be included in this issue.
Then there’s Carrolyn Minggia who refuses to let permanent damage to her central nervous system stop her from teaching arthritis aquatics to seniors — including a 96-year-old — two days a week at the Christian Street YMCA, 1724 Christian St.
The late Jeffrey Rush also made the list as an honorary Difference Maker for his countless contributions to Queen Village.
These are just a few snippets from the long list of deserving honorees that starts on page 7. The passion for what they do shines through in their respective stories that will make one quickly realize that there are a lot more important things in life than whether or not the NHL returns.
Contact Editor Bill Gelman at bgelman@southphillyreview.com or ext. 121.
2012 Difference Makers
/ Joe Barbuto / Ella Best / Paul Bryson / Nicole Canale /
/ Jasmaine, Jeannine & Jenielle Cook / Erin Dougherty /
/ Duane Davis / Frank Franzini / Adé Fuqua / Bennie & Hilda Hudson /
/ Ray Innaurato / Ed McBride / Jeannine McGuire / Carrolyn Minggia /
/ Teri Ruiz & Leah Vodila / Jeffrey Rush / Rev. John Stabeno /
/ Marina Stamos / Anne Stanfield-Hagert / Charles Stecker / Megan West /
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