Big award for Anderson Monarchs

A South Philly youth sports institution received high honors and recognition for the great work it has done in the community.

The Anderson Monarchs, a sports-based youth developmental organization based at 744 S. 17th St. in the Graduate Hospital neighborhood, received the 2022 Robert P. Levy Community Service Award by PHL Sports, a division of the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The award recognizes its strong local community involvement through athletics, with programs that provide athletic and educational opportunities to thousands of South Philadelphia youth who are “under-resourced” in Philadelphia.

The Monarchs were honored as part of the John Wanamaker Athletic Award luncheon on Oct. 26. Other award winners were Philadelphia Union goalkeeper Andre Blake, Temple University coach Dr. Nikki Franke and the late Cliff Smith of the Parkside Saints football program.

Anderson Monarchs Programs include developmental sports leagues, soccer, basketball and baseball travel teams, camps and clinics and off-field support such as leadership and character development, high school and college prep and opportunities for travel and exposure.

Pictured in the photo, from left: Kevin Powell, Wanamaker Office Building general manager; Keyir Burwell, Anderson Monarchs athlete; Don Smolenski, Philadelphia Eagles president; Amos Huron, Anderson Monarchs executive director; and Kathryn Ott Lovell, commissioner of the city Department of Parks and Recreation.