Many area nonprofits depend on donations to survive, a fiscal precariousness that has been exacerbated this year by ripple effects from the state budget impasse.
As a result, institutions that typically benefit from state grants, either directly or indirectly, are hoping that the public will help fill the gap this year on Tuesday, Dec. 1, also known as #GivingTuesday.
Designed as a prelude to the holiday shopping season, #GivingTuesday aims to inspire people to take collaborative action to improve their local communities by donating to the charities and causes that serve them.
#GivingTuesday offers supporters the chance to make a tax-deductible gift before the end of the year – and before busting their own shopping budget.
So whether your interests lie with assisting the hungry through the Chester County Food Bank or improving the future of females through the Chester County Fund for Women and Girls or enhancing creative outlets at the Chester County Art Association, opportunities abound.
Darlington Arts Center in Concord Township invites the community to a free Holiday Arts Partyon Sunday, Dec. 6.
The party will display music, art, dance, and drama and celebrate Darlington’s mission – “Every Art for Everyone,” according to a Darlington press release.
The party kicks off with an art gallery and reception at 2:30 p.m. for local artist Lauren Litwa Holden, a longtime resident of Wawa. Her collection of watercolor and oil paintings will be on display through the month. The community is invited to meet the artist, view the work, and enjoy free wine and cheese at the reception.
At 3 p.m., a recital featuring Darlington’s music students will begin. Then, at 4 p.m. Darlington will host its first ever Holiday Jam. The jam will offer a fun opportunity for musicians of all ages to join together and create festive holiday music.
Darlington Arts Center is a nonprofit center for myriad visual and performing arts. Fall classes are underway, but there is still room in many offerings. The center is located at 977 Shavertown Rd. in Garnet Valley. For more information, visit www.darlingtonarts.org or call 610-358-3632.
Hollywood came to Chester County on Sunday night, Nov. 29, as hundreds of regional cast and crew members for “Creed,” the latest installment of the Rocky Balboa series, celebrated the opening of the film – as well as Movie Tavern Exton.
Stretch limos pulled up to the dine-in theater, located within Main Street at Exton on Route 100. Most of the glittering dresses and tuxes belonged to fans who had signed up as extras and were hoping they could spot themselves in the crowd scenes. One exception was Ricardo “Padman” McGill, a boxing trainer in the film, whose presence offered encouragement to aspiring stars.
Movie Tavern Exton is scheduled to open to the public on Monday, Nov. 30, after more than seven months of construction at an estimated cost of $17 million, promoters said. The new nine-screen, 43,485 sq. ft. theater brings the company’s full-service, cinema-eatery concept to Chester County.
As part of its opening festivities, Movie Tavern Exton will be hosting a toy drive in support of the Salvation Army of West Chester. Beginning today, guests who donate an unwrapped toy will receive a free appetizer voucher. The toy drive will last through the premiere of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” on Dec. 17.
The chain says it offers a family-friendly experience that caters to adults. Guests 16 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian age 21 or older. For more information, visit www.movietavern.com.
Frances Brown Wisdom, 76, of Media, died Wednesday, Nov. 4, at Wesley Enhanced Living Retirement Home in Media. She was the wife of the late Dr. William A. Wisdom who died on Dec. 13, 2013, and with whom she shared 30 years of marriage. She was preceded in death by her son Timothy Brown, step son Robert Wisdom, and her siblings Horace Lanan, Esther Lanan, Fred Lanan, Kenneth Lanan, and Charles Lanan.
Born Frances Elaine Lanan on Oct. 26, 1939 in Norristown, she was the daughter of the late Horace Heysham Lanan and the late Frances Mayberry Lanan.
Frances “Fritzi” graduated from Norristown High School in 1957, and graduated from the Philadelphia General Hospital nursing program in 1962. She worked as a psychiatric nurse, and lived in Merion, eventually marrying the late William Wisdom in 1984. She and William resided in Bryn Mawr, until 2007.
Fritzi enjoyed performing “Old Time”, or Appalachian-style folk music, and frequently hosted “music nights” on Friday evenings, where many of her friends would gather to play. Both Fritzi and William founded the musical group “Wissahickon Drive”, and performed often for various parties, engagements, and philanthropies. Fritzi also enjoyed traveling and spending time with her friends and grandchildren.
Frizi’s children are from a former marriage to Robert C. Brown. Survivors include two sons, Steven Brown and his wife Melissa of Landenberg, and Craig Brown of Phoenixville; one daughter, Esther L. Brown and her husband Josh Nims of Boulder, Colo.; four beloved grandchildren, Madison and Ashley Brown, and Luke and Tessa Nims.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 399 Market Street, Suite 102, Philadelphia, PA.
Memorial Service and burial will be held privately at Riverside Cemetery, Eagleville, PA.
Franklin H. Kurr, 89, of West Grove, died Tuesday, Nov. 24, at the Jennersville Regional Hospital. He was the husband of Nancy J. Kurr, with whom he shared 69 years of marriage.
Born in Philadelphia, he was the son of the late Franklin H. and Mamie Reinert Kurr.
Mr. Kurr served our country in the Marine Corp during WWII.
Frank was an accountant for Wilson of Wallingford Oil Co for many years retiring in 1994.
He enjoyed stamp collecting.
He was predeceased by a sister Dorothy Decker.
Services and interment will be held privately. Contributions in his memory may be made to Bethany Presbyterian Church, PO Box 17 Mendenhall, PA 19357.
Arrangements are by Kuzo & Grieco funeral home of Kennett Square (610-444-4116) To share a memory with his family, please visit www.griecocares.com
Barbara “Babs” Lucas Cocks, 96, of Kennett Square, died peacefully in the company of her family on Thursday, Nov. 26, at Linden Hall of the Kennett Friends Home after a full and vibrant life. She was the wife of the late Racing Hall of Fame trainer W. Burling “Burley” Cocks of Old Westbury, Long Island who died in 1998 and with whom she shared 58 years of marriage.
Babs was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on May 1, 1919 to Gerald Brinton Lucas and Adelaide Loughead Lucas. She spent her youth at Midstream Farm in Paoli, where she cultivated her love of country pursuits – particularly a love of horses. She studied at Agnes Irwin School where she demonstrated athletic prowess in lacrosse and field hockey. In the summers, she could be found enjoying time with family and friends on the rocks of Maine with many treasured memories created at “Spouting Horn” in Cape Neddick.
Immediately following their wedding, Babs and Burley moved to a homestead at Fay Ingalls’ farm in Hot Springs, Va. to pursue Burley’s career as s trainer of steeplechase race horses. They returned to Chester County, Pennsylvania in 1945 and made their permanent home at Hermitage Farm in 1947.
Under the Cocks racing colors of maroon and gold, Babs and Burley established an impressive training facility at Hermitage Farm with a mile track and thirty stalls. While Burley was regarded as a master of horsemanship and a mentor to many in his field, Babs was an integral part of the operation’s success. In addition to her roles as the bookkeeper and business manager, Babs could often be found out galloping the “fussy horses” or preparing a feast on any given night for every hungry mouth on the farm – the six in the family, numerous jockeys and trainers-in-training that lived at the farm, and anyone else who dropped in.
A gardening enthusiast, devoted parishioner and choir alto at the Episcopal Church of the Advent, life-long volunteer at the American Red Cross, and a professional tennis enthusiast, Babs left no time on this earth wasted.
Babs was predeceased by one brother, two sisters, her husband and her daughter, Susan Cocks Small Jones. Babs is survived by three children – Barbara Cocks Vannote and her life partner, Hall Snyder, of Kennett Square, Jessie Cocks of Kennett Square, and William “Winky” & Candi Cocks of Camden, S.C.; eight grandchildren — Susannah Small, Michaela Small Raine, Jessica Moutenot-Small, Alexandria Cocks Arnold, Sarah Cocks, E. Burling Cocks, R. Lewis Vannote and Burling C. Vannote; and 11 great grandchildren. All will remember her with great affection.
Her last year of life was spent in the exceptional care of the staff at Linden Hall of the Friends Home in Kennett – many of whom she considered to be her dear friends.
Babs’ life will be celebrated at a memorial service on Friday, Dec. 4, at 3 p.m. at the Episcopal Church of the Advent: 401 N. Union St. Kennett Square, PA 19348. Interment will be held privately at London Grove Friends Cemetery before the service.
Arrangements are being handled by the Kuzo & Grieco Funeral Home Inc. (610-444-4116) of Kennett Square. To view her online tribute and to share a memory with her family, please visit www.griecocares.com
Grace Beverly Neidlein DiFilippo, 86, of Kennett Square, died Saturday, Nov. 28, at the Friends Home in Kennett Square. She was the wife of Michael Joseph DiFilippo Jr. who died in 2011, and with whom she shared 64 years of marriage.
Born in Wilmington, she was the daughter of the late Albert F. and Catherine Shane Neidlein.
Mrs. DiFilippo was a homemaker. She enjoyed going to Delaware Park, shopping and being with her family and friends, especially her grandchildren.
She was a member of St. Patrick’s Church in Kennett Square.
She is survived by one son, Albert M. DiFilippo and his wife Ruth of Baywood Greens, Millsboro, Del.; three daughters, Kathy M. Corby and her husband Nick of Kennett Square, Michele K. DiFilippo and her fiancé Ron Simpson of Avondale, and Joanne K. Tigue of Kennett Square; one brother, Albert Neidlein Jr. of Wilmington; five sisters, Shirley Oddo of Laurel, Del., Mary Zickefoose, Ruth Gagnon, Darlene Fraim and Linda Simonds, all of Wilmington; eight grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.
She was predeceased by one son, Thomas Patrick DiFilippo.
You are invited to visit with her family and friends from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 3, at the Kuzo & Grieco Funeral Home, 250 West State Street in Kennett Square. Her Funeral Mass will follow at 11 at St. Patrick’s Church, 212 Meredith Street in Kennett Square. Burial will be in St. Patrick’s cemetery.
In memory of Mrs. DiFilippo, a contribution may be made to the Friends Home, 147 West State Street, Kennett Square, PA 19348
