The Cordish Companies celebrated the second anniversary of Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia with a donation of $750,000 to Rebuild Philadelphia, aimed towards the major renovation of the Murphy Recreation Center, located in South Philadelphia. The contribution will allow Rebuild to finish the $4.5 million project, scheduled to be completed in the fall.
The Cordish Companies and Live! Philadelphia officials were joined by Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, a number of Philadelphia City Councilmembers, and representatives for Rebuild at a ceremony to announce details of the transformative investment towards a project that is expected “to benefit the families and young people of Philadelphia for generations to come.”
Proposed site improvements at Murphy Recreation Center include a brand-new turf field for football, baseball, softball, and soccer and brand-new basketball courts. New sidewalks, fencing, and landscaping round out the planned renovations.
Joe Billhimer
Joe Billhimer, Chief Operating & Development Officer at Cordish Gaming Group, said: “Live! Philadelphia is proud to partner with Rebuild Philadelphia to help bring such a worthwhile project to fruition. Murphy Recreation Center has served as a hub for community gathering for decades in South Philly.”
“As a family-owned business, we can appreciate how important it is for families to have a safe place to come together. They deserve the best, and we look forward to going on this transformational journey with them,” he added.
Live! Casino & Hotel opened to the public on February 11, 2021, in the heart of the South Philadelphia Stadium District. Since then, Live! Philadelphia has established partnerships with “dozens of regional tourism, business, and non-profit organizations,” points out Cordish. With the Rebuild donation, total contributions to date top more than $2.3 million in cash and in-kind support.
Rebuild Philadelphia is Mayor Kenney’s initiative to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in Philadelphia neighborhood parks, recreation centers, and libraries. Rebuild seeks to improve 70-plus public spaces through these investments.
Jim Kenney
Jim Kenney, Philadelphia Mayor, commented: “The energy in our city is electric right now, and today’s celebration fuels even more excitement, especially in South Philadelphia. The soon-to-be improved recreation center is a dynamic, accessible hub for children, families, and residents to play and gather.”
“The upgrades make room for new opportunities and connections, and it may even be the home field of the next NFL star. My administration and I are looking forward to seeing the memories that will be made in this space,” he stated.
Kira Strong
For her part, Kira Strong, Executive Director of Rebuild, noted: “Rebuild is proud to invest in the improvements at Murphy Recreation Center, and it would not be possible without the generous contribution from Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia.”
“Through the combination of City and Rebuild funding and incredible community partnerships like Live!, we are able to deliver on the Rebuild promise to engage with the community to understand their vision and invest intentionally to deliver a quality resource in their neighborhood,” she concluded.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2023/02/10/66056-cordish-cos-celebrates-live-casino-philadelphia-39s-second-anniversary-with-750k-donation
