Cardinal Justin Rigali, Archbishop of Philadelphia, will join Hands Across Lehigh walkathon. The walkathon evolved from discussions among North Philadelphia Catholic Coalition (NPCC) members and local schools to respond to the violence in North Philadelphia, and in particular along Lehigh Avenue, which has seen a spike in violent crime rates in recent months. The purpose of Hands Across Lehigh walkathon is to raise collective voices against violence.

Hands Across Lehigh will move westward across Lehigh Avenue from the steps of Saint Anne Church, over to Lehigh and Ridge Avenues, and into Fairmount Park to the Robin Hood Dell East.

The event is a broad based community march that welcomes all community members, churches and organizations that feel strongly about the unacceptable levels of violence that have negatively affected Philadelphia neighborhoods.

Saturday, May 5, 2007
1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. ~ Starting at Saint Anne Church, 2300 East Lehigh Avenue
3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. ~ Anti-Violence Program, Robin Hood Dell East, Fairmount Park


Anchored by schools in North Philadelphia, from Port Richmond to Strawberry Mansion, other organizations have joined the March including the Mayor's Office of Faith Based Initiatives (Faith Leaders Advisory Taskforce for Community Safety), Temple University Newman Center, Bank of America, Cease Fire PA, Thriftway Supermarket, LaSalle Academy, Saint Andrew's Youth Ministry (Newtown, Bucks County), and many others schools, churches and corporations.

Editor's Note: For more information, please contact Stanley R. Faison, Director of Development, Saint Martin de Porres School, 215-228-8330.


# # #

Contact
Meredith Wilson
Communications Specialist
215-587-3747