There’s no place like Homecoming Weekend
Whether you turn up or get down, help us celebrate and support Philly public schools.
Homecoming 2019 Recap
On November 7-9, 2019, we threw a party like back in the day: Homecoming, a citywide alumni weekend supporting Philly public schools. We kicked things off with the Homecoming Awards Gala at the Fillmore Philly on November 7th, then kept the spirit going on November 8th with the Welcome Home School Tour for public school alumni to visit their alma maters and reconnect with the schools, principals, and the needs of the schools. The Homecoming weekend concluded with the Battle of the Bands on November 9th.
Sign up for our newsletter to be notified about the next Homecoming.
Watch the recap of the 2019 Homecoming Weekend and Awards Gala filmed and produced by the student filmmakers of Big Picture Alliance.
Class of Philadelphia Inaugural Alumni Awards & Homecoming Dance
The Inaugural Homecoming weekend launched November 7th-9th and was considered a success and will only get bigger by many in attendance including alumni, the Mayor’s office, media partners and School District employees. Honorary Co-Chairs Mayor Jim Kenney and Philadelphia School District Superintendent Dr. William H. Hite, mingled with patrons during the VIP reception and participated in the award ceremony. We registered 219 in attendance for the Homecoming Dance with three other events taking place the same evening. Our board was well represented and all honorees attended with the exception of “Most Artistic” awardee Jill Scott who was filming in Atlanta, but accepted via video. Sponsor tables were well attended and host sponsor TD Bank is anxious to be a part in community and alumni engagement as well as next year’s Homecoming weekend.
The “Class of Philadelphia” is a citywide Homecoming weekend and Philadelphia is the first city to do this for a School District. So join us for an evening of music, information, food, beverage and celebration as we continue to honor some extraordinary Philly public school alumni and outstanding supporters of education.
The evening consisted of VIP cocktail reception, the alumni lounge, awards programming, dinner and dance.
2019 Homecoming Honorees:
Class of Philadelphia Honoree : Janet Haas, MD, Chair William Penn Foundation
Alumni Honorees:
Most Distinguished- Joseph Field, Chairman Emiritus, Entercom/Central H.S.
Most Artistic- Jill Scott, Grammy winning singer/songwriter and actress/Philadelphia High School for Girls
The All Public Award- Aaron McKie, Head Coach, Temple University Men’s Basketball/Gratz H.S.
Most Engaged Alumnus- Michael Brown, Alumni President - West Philadelphia High School
Most Likely to Change the World- Ellen Lissy Rosenberg, V.P. Development and Civic Engagement, The Goldenberg Group/Central H.S
We encourage all alumni to join the directory, share stories and nominate your candidate for Most Engaged Alumni!!
Welcome Home School Tour
School tour and chat with the Principal, Alumni Association friends and students.
The School Tour took place in Philadelphia Public Schools on Friday, November 8th (9:30 – 11:30 a.m.) and registered 28 schools participating with 54 alumni reserved through the Philly Alumni website for the tour. We discovered however, that alumni were also calling schools directly so the total of alumni participating is closer to 155. Alumni met with school leadership including the principals, walked the halls, took pictures with students and in some cases schools had refreshments or a luncheon prepared. Stay tuned for information on a community component that will be instrumental in promoting the return to school, community and city pride!
All alumni are invited to come home and visit the public schools they attended (elementary, middle and high schools). The idea is to engage alumni and welcome them to first experience the nostalgia and memories, then to speak with school leadership and hear the good things that our students and schools are accomplishing as well as resources that are needed. The goal is for alumni to leave feeling informed and wanting to get involved.
Participants:
All Philadelphia Public schools
Principals and school leadership
Student representatives if available
Alumni
Alumni associations
Friends and Partners
Battle of the Bands
The Battle of the Bands held at Kraft Hall on Saturday, Nov. 9 | 12-5 p.m. Columbus Blvd, and was an absolute great time for students and family. The venue accommodated all our needs and the city provided sound and additional supports. Media partner I Heart radio was present and Eliott King, Music Director | Night Show Host Q102 Philly’s #1 Hit Music Station hosted along with Frank Machos (Executive Director –SDP Arts & Music) and The Fund / Philly Alumni’s own John Barber III. Students performed from 10 schools (rock band, R&b and Hip Hop groups and last but not least the marching band drumline).
2019 showed us that this is the perfect way to cap off the Homecoming weekend! It’s reminiscent of a University homecoming jams session. Attendees met and socialized, and the afternoon was highlighted by the “Battle of the High School Bands” exhibition featuring student musicians from our area public school’s, talented drum lines and Rock bands.
Sponsors
We couldn’t do it without you.
Graduate Sponsor
Senior Sponsors
Junior Sponsor
Sophomore Sponsors
Freshman Sponsors
Homecoming 2019 Event Committee
Honorary Co-Chairs
Mayor Jim Kenney
Superintendent Dr. William R. Hite
Co-Chairs
Rev. Dr. Lorina Marshall-Blake, Overbrook High School ‘68
Greg L. DeShields, Olney High School ‘76
Trang Do, Central High School ‘02
Brandon Pankey, Masterman High School ‘01
Sharon Pinkenson, Girls High School ‘66
Joseph Zuritsky, Overbrook High School ‘57
Planning Committee
Stephanie Naidoff, Olney High School ‘59
Elka Battle-Murillo
Judge Roxanne Covington
Donna Frisby-Greenwood
Deana Gamble
Sheila Hess
Keith Leaphart, Central High School ‘92
Frank Machos
Rakia Reynolds
Mikecia Witherspoon, Julia R. Masterman School ‘05