Difference Makers. Was it one of those wake-up-in-the-middle-of-the-night ideas that I quickly wrote down before falling back to sleep, or did it come while driving across the Walt Whitman Bridge? Well, seven years later, the answer to that question no longer matters. Why, you ask? This issue marks the seventh class of Difference Makers –bringing the grand total to 170 honorees.
We are talking about standout individuals who make assisting others a priority, whether it be via charitable efforts, spreading an important message or simply making the community a safer place to live, work, and play. Some perform these acts of goodwill as a tandem while others set a tone in hopes that others will follow.
Yes, some get paid handsomely — hello, Joel Embiid — to make a difference. The long-anticipated arrival of this 7-foot, 250-pound giant seems to be making such an impact that the word “tanking” has at least temporarily faded away like a jump shot. Granted it’s only the preseason. Like recent campaigns, the home team needs to overcome a bad case of the injury bug (№1 overall pick Ben Simmons is currently sidelined with a broken foot).
We could go on and on mentioning other athletes, celebrities, and politicians who deem themselves “Difference Makers,” but the focus of this week’s issue belongs to those individuals who prefer performing their work behind the scenes without the fanfare or recognition. Like previous years, the 2016 Class of Difference Makers did not send out e-mail blasts with “pick me” in the subject line. Their peers, on the other hand, had no trouble submitting nomination letters praising the work. As we shine the spotlight on these individuals who typically prefer staying out of the limelight, there is no doubt their work is far from finished.
What started out as an out-of-left-field concept has now come full circle, with previous winners making sure that our worthy candidates receive their just due on South Philly’s grand stage.
But the Difference Maker profiles are just one aspect of this special Fall Guide. Those seeking some Halloween- or fall-themed fun should check out the special events page in this week’s What’s Happening section. For those suddenly intrigued by the idea of checking out the previously mentioned Sixers, the complete home schedule — as well as the Flyers — can be found in this week’s issue. For those who prefer planning ahead, the expanded concert, theater, and museum listings go just beyond the Thanksgiving holiday.
The Difference Makers kick things off on page 6. Who knows, maybe after reading these profiles, you may find yourself suddenly asking “How can I make a difference?”
-By Bill Gelman
Text by Ryan Curtiss, Joseph A. Fontanazza, Austin MacFadden, Joseph Myers, and George Woolston
Photos by Maria Young
