Local children got their feet wet during the West Philadelphia Children Health Care and Safety Festival Sunday.
The festival was both informative and fun for local area kids and was held in Clark Park near the intersection of 45th Street and Woodland Avenue. More than 100 children and parents attended the event, which was cut short due to an unexpected downpour.
The festival brought together students and volunteers from Penn's schools of Medicine, Dental Medicine and Nursing, as well as many undergraduates. Each provided screenings and informational material on their area of health care, including tests for cavities, dietary knowledge and high blood pressure.
The event was organized and run by College sophomore Adam Dean. "I thought this would be a nice day for the kids," he said. "It would just be nice to give something back to the community."
Although the rain interrupted the festival before the arrival of the Phillie Phanatic, the mascot of the Philadelphia Phillies, other entertainment acts were already there, including a Moonbounce, the Mummers -- a local string band tradition -- and a clown, along with free hot dogs and a live disc jockey.
"The core of the event was health and safety," Dean said. "After that, it was just picturing what you would want to do if you were a 10-year-old in the park on a Sunday afternoon."
Many, despite the weather and other logistical difficulties, were thankful for the effort.
"It was an impressive sign of commitment to the community to University City by Penn student organizers," said Tony West, president of Friends of Clark Park. "We really like to see that. It was a job well done. Weather is always a challenge in putting on outdoor festivals," adding that the kids he brought to the event had a great time.
Both West and Dean expressed desires for the event to become more than just a one-time affair.
"Our main purpose is to provide education outreach for the children in the community," second-year Dental student Giao Ton said, adding that the Dental School also provides oral screenings, free toothbrushes, toothpaste and floss as part of all of its volunteering activities.
The event was sponsored by Tangible Change and the Hillel of Greater Philadelphia, among other organizations.
