Presenting Sponsor
Charity's Circle Sponsors
Caring Sponsors
Community Partners
Registration & Sponsorships
2021 Civic Champions
Sr. M. Charity Kohl, RGS
Sister Charity, a native of the Bridesburg section of Philadelphia and one of four children, cared deeply about helping her community. She has been described as a trailblazer and a revolutionary, the architect of an agency with the unique ability to adapt and grow to meet changing community needs. The neighborhood social-service center she created 5 decades ago now, started with the vision of addressing the needs of underserved Northeast Philadelphia. Soon, the center became the standard in the field of human services and expanded its reach throughout other areas of the city. Full Bio Here
Sr. Brigid Lawlor, RGS
Sr. Brigid has dedicated her career to advancing the Good Shepherd mission. She hails from Reading, Pennsylvania. She earned her BA degree in Psychology from La Salle University, her Social Work and Law and Social Policy Masters degrees from Bryn Mawr College, and eventually a JD from Temple University School of Law. Her earlier Philadelphia endeavors included work in the Germantown section of Philadelphia as a Child Care Supervisor at the Good Shepherd Claver School for Girls and the Good Shepherd Diagnostic Center (founded by Sr. Charity Kohl). She started a Youth Counseling Service in SW Germantown with the Neighborhood Association which served 800 area youth. She initiated the Philadelphia Housing Court Mediation Program in 1982 and went on to found the Good Shepherd Mediation Program in 1984. In fact, along with Attorney Stephen Bosh, Sr. Brigid started the original Landlord/Tenant Mediation Program at Housing Court and was she the program's first employed mediator who ran the program, trained mediators and did mediation of cases. Full Bio Here
Classroom Champions
Harrison Mayall-Weiland
The Bridge Way School, Class of 2021
"It is my honor and privilege to have worked directly with Harrison. He has received a number of services through CORA and all the staff that have worked with him agree that Harrison exemplifies the qualities of leadership, faith, compassion, optimism and courage, of which Sr. Charity would be extremely proud."
~Caitlin Mede, CORA Drug and Alcohol Counselor
Jessica Grabon
Benjamin Rush High School, Class of 2020
"Jessica embodies zeal, compassion, positivity and perseverance. I am very proud of her personal growth and believe she is an exceptional choice as a Classroom Champion. She has endured many adversities, but did not allow them to interfere with achieving excellent grades and being a positive role model."
~Kara DeVoe, CORA Family Intervention Counselor
Mariame Sissoko
Central High School, Class of 2020
"I had the pleasure of teaching Mariame and found her curious, dependable and hardworking, however, it is outside of the classroom where I have seen the most growth in Mariame. As the founder and president of Stressed Out Students (SOS), Mariame has given back significantly to her fellow students and community."
~Traci Albuck, Central High School Teacher and Sponsor of S.O.S
Corporate Champions
John J. Coyle, 4th- Henderson Group
John Coyle, originally from Newtown Square, PA, resides in Wilmington, DE with his wife Heather and teenage daughter Caroline. John is a graduate of Saint Joseph's Preparatory High School, Georgetown University, (BSBA), Widener University School of Law (JD) and Johns Hopkins University (MS - Real Estate) Full Bio Here
Valentine Brown- Duane Morris, LLP
Previously, in conjunction with international Conflict Resolution Day, the Good Shepherd Mediation Program honored individuals who had been instrumental in encouraging peace and social justice in Philadelphia and named them Shepherds of Peace. Valentine Brown and Duane Morris are truly great examples of Shepherds of Peace. Full Bio Here
