As the Mummers made music, kids formed a parade with beach balls and sunglasses and an oversized gift check for $400,000 was presented, Philadelphia plunged into the summer season with enough money to open all 70 of its pools.
Last year, because of City Hall red ink, it struggled to open only 46. Others like the one near George Washington Elementary in South Philadelphia remained empty. But that was last year.
"For so many years, we haven't had pools open. This is one of the greatest days in a long time for us," school principal Rosalind Tharpe said.
For months, the city was looking for donations to open and staff pools.
First Niagara, a new bank in town, was looking for a good cause to connect with, something to help kids; it was a match made in marketing heaven.
"At a time when the economy's very challenged, obviously, the city's challenged, the mayor's dealing with budget cuts, we need the private sector to step up," First Niagara CEO John Koelmel said.
Besides the $400,000 for the Philadelphia pools, the bank is giving $250,000 to regional YMCAs to underwrite swimming lessons.
