Community Interest
Growing together
Allentown’s parks have long been a backdrop for connection.
Friends of the Allentown Parks is celebrating 18 years of dedication to park care with its first-ever Growing Together Awards Luncheon, recognizing people and programs helping the city’s green spaces flourish.
Held on December 18 at Cedar Crest College, the luncheon will honor philanthropist Barbara Bigelow with the Friend of the Parks Award and the Clean Team Workforce, a program of the Allentown Rescue Mission, with the Parks Stewardship Award.
Founded in 1900, the Allentown Rescue Mission is celebrating 125 years of service to the community. Since 2008, the Clean Team Workforce has provided transitional employment to graduates of the Rescue Mission, teaching workforce skills, supporting independence, and helping men save money as they rebuild their lives. Among the team’s many jobs is maintaining parks and streets, ensuring they remain spaces where families gather, neighbors connect, and nature thrives.
The luncheon celebrates these partnerships and encourages continued support for both Friends of the Allentown Parks and the Allentown Rescue Mission. Guests will share a meal, honor extraordinary contributions, and recognize the collective effort that keeps Allentown’s parks welcoming and beautiful for generations to come.
Find tickets and sponsorship opportunities at allentownparks.org/events.html.
Want to discover more local? Follow Fig on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn for inspiration.
