Vernell Stewart, a Central Processing tech, has been working at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center for 39 years. And for more than half of that long tenure, she has been cleaning up her neighborhood in West Philadelphia outside of work. Twenty years ago, she started cleaning up and maintaining an empty lot on her block, and her neighbors suggested she become the block captain. Today, she’s still committed to making her neighborhood a beautiful place.
This spring, a Penn Medicine colleague spotted her cleaning up “The Triangle” at Union Street and Sloan Street near Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, and suggested she apply for a Penn Medicine CAREs Grant to fund adding flowers, shrubs, and repairing the sidewalk.
“I was so excited to find out I got the CAREs grant,” Stewart said. “It’s so important for me to give back to the community, and once it’s repaired, this Triangle will be the perfect spot for our neighbors to read, meet with their friends, or even exercise.”
Are you interested in a Penn Medicine CAREs grant to support your own volunteer work in the community? Visit PennMedicine.org/community to learn more.