The COVID-19 pandemic has placed an extraordinary strain on students and families and reinforced the stark educational inequities facing children in Pennsylvania. Students in low-wealth communities, students with disabilities, English learners, and students of color are facing extreme challenges. ELC has been working hard to ensure that all children receive a quality education during this crisis, but they cannot do it alone.

Charlie Crawford, Chairman & CEO of Hyperion Bank, says, "I am proud to serve on the Host Committee for ELC's 45th Anniversary Celebration, and hope you will consider sponsoring or virtually attending this important event to help ELC fight the good fight for educational justice. Please join me, along with other members of the legal, business, education, and civic communities, when we celebrate with ELC and honor students and families in a safe and engaging way through the wonders of Zoom and video. A Zoom link and celebration package will be sent to all sponsors and their guests prior to the event to ensure an informative, moving, and festive virtual gathering. Thank you!"

With one foot in Philadelphia and the other in Atlanta, Hyperion Bank Chairman & CEO Charlie Crawford makes time to support nonprofit organizations in both regions. Charlie recently rejoined Rotary Club of Atlanta, one of the international business and civic club's oldest and largest affiliates.

The official Rotary International motto is “service above self,” and for more than a century, the Rotary Club of Atlanta has brought together Atlanta’s business and civic leadership to inspire progress with this important purpose in mind. The 500+ members in Atlanta give their time and lend their influence to causes they and Rotary support, with a focus on youth literacy, education, training and vocational guidance, recreation, and anti-human trafficking, as well as international projects that bring clean water, vaccines, and maternal healthcare to underserved communities around the world. It is a tradition that members are key leaders in their fields who are committed to community service.

"I am proud to represent Hyperion Bank as a member of Rotary Club of Atlanta, where I have the opportunity to work side by side with strong leaders who contribute to helping children and families with services and support in metro Atlanta and abroad," says Charlie. "If you are not familiar with Rotary Club, I encourage you to learn more about its affiliates in Atlanta and Philadelphia."

On July 21, Georgia Governor Brian P. Kemp and Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) Commissioner Dr. Kathleen Toomey issued a press release asking all residents to do "Four Things four Four Weeks":

Governor Tom Wolf issued a similar message to Pennsylvania residents in a July 29 press release, stating, “We have been largely successful in our fight against COVID-19 thanks to the hard work and sacrifices of every Pennsylvanian. But with a recent and ongoing rise in cases, we must remain vigilant, continue to listen to healthcare professionals and each do our part to prevent this dangerous virus from spreading through our communities.”

Luan opened Branzino Italian Ristorante in October 2003 because after being in the restaurant business for a while, "It only makes sense owning your own," he says. Luan and his family cater to their dining guests with a staff of 18, who together earn 5-star reviews for providing wonderful dining experiences in a beautiful setting with excellent service.

Enjoy a safe, affordable, and socially distanced outdoor experience not too far from home on the beautiful, 127-acre grounds of this nonprofit environmental education center. With a zipline and canopy walk, woodland trails, native animals, a river boardwalk, butterfly and native plant gardens, and the Discovery Center Museum and Nature Exchange, it's easy to spend a day here--bring a picnic lunch and explore forest, wetland, and river habitats along the Chattahoochee River. Members and visitors must make advance reservations online; tickets will include a specific date and time; no walk-ups allowed due to COVID-19 safety measures. And if walking along the River leaves you wanting more nature experiences, reserve a limited spot on a CNC canoe trip (ages 6 and up, beginners welcome). Learn more. Photo courtesy Chattahoochee Nature Center.

If you only know the Fernbank for its world-class Museum of Natural History, it's time to visit the place that Smithsonian Magazine recommends as one of "Seven Places to Get Outside This Summer." Take a walk on the wild side when you explore the Fernbank's WildWoods and Fernbank Forest, a 75-acre wonderland of outdoor nature adventures. Wander along two miles of paths through the country's largest, old-growth, urban Piedmont forest or see the view from the canopy walk, experience immersive trails, spot hundreds of animal species, climb on play-scapes or marvel at tree-pods and sculptures made from all-natural materials. And that's just the outdoors! The fun continues indoors with ancient dinosaurs and fossils, live animals, the star gallery, and more. Safety measures include reducing visitor capacity by requiring members and non-members to purchase limited, timed tickets in advance online; walk-ups are not allowed. Masks are required indoors, but not outdoors when physical social distancing can be maintained (wear a mask when passing others on outdoor paths). Learn more. Photo courtesy Fernbank Museum.

Philadelphia's hidden gem is this 348-acre green oasis located just down Broad Street, opposite the Sports Complex. Here you'll find fields, a lagoon, creeks, lakes, and the American Swedish Historical Museum. Bird-watchers have spotted more than 200 species in the park, skateboarders come for the internationally renown FDR Skate Park, and people of all ages walk, jog, bike, fish, play tennis (20 courts), softball (8 fields), and rugby, take yoga classes, or just relax in the beautiful natural setting (note that permits are required for some activities and group events). Designed by the Olmsted Brothers, sons of the famous landscape designer Frederick Law Olmsted, FDR Park was the site of the Sesquicentennial Exposition in 1926 and added to the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places in 2000. And this picturesque Gazebo is a perfect spot for a picnic lunch! Learn more. Photo courtesy Philadelphia Parks and Recreation

Just an hour away from Center City, Philadelphia, a visit to the historic Brandywine Valley feels like you're on vacation, with an abundance of opportunities to enjoy the outdoors, plus art and history museums that are now open with COVID-19 safety protocols in place. The region's world-class attractions include Longwood Gardens (featuring its famous illuminated fountain performances Fridays and Saturdays at 9:15 pm), the Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library, the Brandywine River Museum of Art, and more, plus beautiful Ridley Creek State Park and Brandywine Creek State Park. You can even get out on the Brandywine River in a canoe, kayak, or tube with Wilderness Canoe Trips, an outfitter that rents boats and runs partial and full-day trips for first-timers or experienced paddlers. Bring a picnic lunch as food venues may be closed. With the exception of the State Parks, all of these attractions require advanced reservations. Visit their websites to learn more about social distancing, mask requirements, and other safety measures. Top photo courtesy Wilderness Canoe Trips; photo below by Daniel Traub courtesy Longwood Gardens.

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