The Mann and The Fresh Grocer are creating meal opportunities and educational enrichment for local youth grades 3-12 in the Philadelphia area

PHILADELPHIA, PA. (SEPTEMBER 16, 2021) – The Mann Center for the Performing Arts is partnering with the Burns’ Family Fresh Grocer Supermarkets to launch their inaugural Rockstar of the Classroom program, providing Fresh Grocer gift cards to Parkside students throughout the 2021-2022 school year. 

Once a month throughout the school year, the Mann will recognize four exemplary students who are registered participants in one of the Mann’s educational programs, such as Music and Motion Academy, All City Orchestra Summer Academy (ACOSA) and the Music Industry Training Program (MITP), as Rockstars of the Classroom. Each winner will receive one $50 gift card redeemable at their nearest Fresh Grocer. The program will recognize 36 winners in total. In addition to the monthly recognitions, three deserving students will be honored as Rockstars of the Year during an end-of-year ceremony where the students will have the opportunity to showcase their hard work. The first-place winner will receive a $500 gift card, followed by a $250 gift card for second place and a $150 gift card for third place. 

The predetermined criteria to receive a gift card includes but is not limited to: class attendance, class participation, student leadership, classroom behavior, healthy habits and overall engagement throughout the school year.

“The Mann is so excited to work with the Burns’ Family Fresh Grocer Supermarkets and launch the Rockstar of the Classroom program,” said Naomi Gonzalez, vice president of education and community engagement. “Students are typically recognized for achieving high grades but not so much for how they contribute to the overall classroom environment, which is where this program comes in. Students will be recognized for how they engage in the classroom and how they participate with the material and their peers. Also, by receiving the Fresh Grocer gift cards, students will be given agency to have their own purchasing power, benefitting them and their families. We are so glad to be partnering with The Fresh Grocer on this initiative to empower Philadelphia’s students, in and out of the classroom.”

The Rockstar of the Classroom initiative advances the Mann’s position as a creative catalyst for civic, youth and economic development. The program will also be showcased at local Fresh Grocer stores twice during the year to give customers a chance to support the educational aims and donate to the program. The Fresh Grocer’s Workforce Readiness Program will also be available to qualifying high school students seeking opportunities to intern or work at their local Fresh Grocer.

“The Burns’ Family Fresh Grocer Supermarkets are delighted to partner with the Mann for our Rockstar of the Classroom program,” said Patrick J. Burns, President and CEO of Burns’ Family Neighborhood Markets. “Fresh Grocer has been proudly serving the Philadelphia community for decades to combat food insecurity, provide career opportunities and by taking an active part in neighborhood initiatives. Our partnership with the Mann, a pillar of the Parkside community, strengthens our dedication to the neighborhoods we serve through supporting the education of our youth.”

To learn more about the Mann Center for the Performing Arts, visit www.manncenter.org. 

About the Mann Center for the Performing Arts
As one of the foremost outdoor music centers in the country, the Mann Center for the Performing Arts, a leading non-profit organization, has a historical legacy of artistic excellence as a world-class entertainment destination presenting premier artists, now in association with Live Nation Entertainment. Each summer season, renowned symphony orchestras, iconic rock stars, and the latest touring artists in indie rock, hip hop, R&B, and pop take the stage here. The Mann is the summer home of The Philadelphia Orchestra and has presented critically acclaimed performers in every decade since the 1930s. Located in the heart of Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park, the Mann hosts more than 200,000 visitors annually. Signature concert experiences are surrounded by Philadelphia’s stunning skyline and include seats beneath the Mann’s acoustically acclaimed TD Pavilion; picnics, blankets, and music under the stars on its Great Lawn or at the top of the hill at the Skyline Stage; and dining in Crescendo, the venue’s spectacular tented restaurant.  In addition, the Mann’s Education & Community Engagement Program reaches tens of thousands of young people annually through free programming and educational initiatives as well as its virtual Mann Music Room.  For more information, visit www.manncenter.org.

About Burns’ Family Neighborhood Markets 
A member of the Wakefern Food Corp., a retailer-owned cooperative, Patrick J. Burns currently operates five Fresh Grocer supermarkets and two ShopRite supermarkets, located throughout the Greater Philadelphia area. Under Patrick’s leadership, Burns’ Family Neighborhood Markets specializes in providing high-quality perishables in urban and suburban environments and is committed to understanding the needs, tastes and traditions of the communities in which their stores are located, and makes it a priority to offer an assortment of products and services to meet those various needs. Burns’ Family Neighborhood Markets is also committed to improving food access and to promoting the health and wellness of its customers, associates and communities. 

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