THE AIM BOARD OF TRUSTEES & DR. DARRYL FORD AND DR. GAIL SULLIVAN AIM GALA CO-CHAIRS
WARMLY WELCOME YOU TO HONORING
Eric Ignatius MitchellMD MA FACPE CPE
Stradley Ronon IN MEMORY OF ALAN GEDRICH
To benefit the students of AIM Academy and the AIM Institute for Learning & Research
PAT ROBERTS & NANCY BLAIR
On behalf of the board, faculty, families, and especially the students of AIM, it is our great pleasure to welcome you to our 2023 AIM for the Stars Gala. We are thrilled to partner with you and have your support as we Chart a Courses for the Future to empower the lives of students through literacy and to provide training and tools for educators across the globe.
We have had an incredible year designing our innovative learning spaces, participating in research projects to improve literacy science, and partnering with states and school districts across the country to provide educators and leaders the instruction they need to transform and empower lives through literacy
We welcomed our new Head of School, Annette Fallon, who has connected with our community to support our 403 Grade 1-12 students (including the 2023 graduating class of 39 seniors) as they chart their individual course for the future. Our team of AIM Institute experts has grown to support training and learning for educators in more than 28 states, from Mississippi to our Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. New course content with Research Advisory Board members Dr. Elsa Cardenas-Hagan and Dr Linnea Ehri focuses on English Learners and Early Childhood materials respectively.
This year’s AIM Institute for Learning & Research Leadership Award goes to our longtime partner Stradley Ronon and honors the support and care that the late Alan Gedrich provided us during his tenure on the AIM board. We are pleased to have Alan’s family in the audience tonight.
AIM Academy’s Sally L. Smith Founder’s Awardee, Dr. Eric I. Mitchell, is an orthopedic surgeon, former Division I basketball player, a national guardsman who holds four different degrees, and is an author who has written about his life and challenges.
AIM’s core values include our focus on Partnering for Impact. Tonight embodies our vision of what can be accomplished for our children around the country who struggle to learn to read Tonight you will see how literacy transforms lives and serves as the gateway to future success both in school and in future ready careers. In addition, you will get a sneak peek of our Global Innovation Hub, that will provide opportunities for students to experience real-world internships with our growing list of corporate and university partners. We invite you to join us as we continue transforming and empowering lives through literacy.
Thank you for all you have done to make tonight a success.
Dr. Eric I. Mitchell is the recipient of this year’s Sally L. Smith Founders Award. Mitchell’s accomplishments began as a high school student recruited by Hall of Fame Basketball Coach Morgan Wooten. While attending St. Joseph’s College of PA (now St. Joeseph’s University), he made two NCAA tournament appearances and was selected as MVP in the Liberty Bell Classic vs. USA. He graduated with a degree in biology and attended the Perelman School of Medicine, followed by a residence in orthopedic surgery at Philadelphia General Hospital and a residency at the University of Pennsylvania. He served as the primary physician for the Penn Quakers football and basketball teams, including a trip to the final four in 1979. He was the first sports medicine fellow under Dr. Joseph Torg, MD, and has presented research at the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Academy of Orthopedic Medicine.
He also authored The Flow Of Life, Keeping Your Dream Alive, which explores his experiences growing up as an African-American in the 1950s and beyond. It continues to explore his challenges and opportunities, including dyslexia, which was not diagnosed until he was 37 in an interview with St. Joesph’s Univeristy student newspaper, The Hawk. “Race was a factor, obstruction, and opportunity to overcome daily. It was a physical characteristic that sometimes characterized you before you ever had a chance to speak to your character,” he explained. It is this ability to overcome his many obstacles, inlcuding his dyslexia, to become one of the most well-recognized sport medicine practitioners in the country that we honor Dr. Eric I. Mitchell.
Born and raised in Philadelphia, Alan Gedrich earned his J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh Law School and his B.S. from the Pennsylvania State University. He was a longtime Philadelphia lawyer in the investment management group at Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young LLP, having begun his career at Stradley in June 1987. He quickly built a strong reputation in the local and national funds legal industry for his knowledge of registered and unregistered funds. He represented mutual fund complexes, their independent trustees, registered investment advisers, and private funds for many years. In addition, he negotiated lines of credit for some of the country’s largest mutual fund complexes.
Alan joined AIM’s Board in 2007 and was one of the initial believers in the power of an AIM education after his son Ross enrolled at AIM. From then on, Alan and his wife Pat worked tirelessly to support AIM. He was instrumental in working with our Governance Committee on AIM’s first bylaws and future revisions. Under Alan’s leadership, AIM received stellar legal advice on purchasing the River Park property and IP advice on our AIM Pathways digital platform. It is due to Alan’s dedication and passion for the work of AIM and AIM Pathways that we honor him by presenting the AIM Institute for Learning & Research Award to Stradley Ronon.
Our good friend and colleague Alan Gedrich passed away after a hard-fought battle with cancer. Alan is survived by his wife, Pat; his sons Austin and Ross; his mother, Sylvia; and his sister, Amy.
Born and raised in Philadelphia, Alan earned his J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh Law School and received his B.S. from the Pennsylvania State University.
Alan began his career as an associate in Stradley Ronon’s business department in 1987 and was elevated to partner in 1997. After transferring to the firm’s investment management group, he quickly built a reputation in the local and national funds industry for his knowledge of registered and unregistered funds. He negotiated lines of credit for some of the country’s largest mutual fund complexes.
Alan was committed to giving back to his community. He served on the board of trustees of AIM Academy, a private college preparatory school for children with learning differences. He served on the Board of Advisors of Penn State Law and was a board member and president of the Smeal College of Business Alumni Society. Alan also served as a member of the board of directors of Philadelphia’s Walnut Street Theatre, America’s oldest theatre.
“Alan was a loving husband and father. He relished time with his wife, especially on the tennis court, where Alan was known to be quite the competitor. He was a terrific lawyer and a wonderful person with a great sense of humor. He was held in high regard by his clients, colleagues and friends at the firm, and we will all miss him dearly.” – Bruce Leto
For over 95 years, Stradley Ronon has helped private and public companies — from small businesses to Fortune 500 corporations — achieve their goals. While we’re proud of our many client achievements, we’re just as dedicated to the communities in which we work and live. Through our financial contributions and volunteer efforts, we’re pleased to support hundreds of nonprofit and charitable organizations.
Matthew S. Naylor - Chair, Crumdale Partners
Al Chiaradonna - Vice Chair
Elliot Holtz - Treasurer, Noro Properties, LLC
Brian Lobley - Secretary
Patricia M. Roberts - Co-CEO
Nancy G. Blair - Co-CEO
Teresa Araco Rodgers - Harp-Weaver LLC
Arthur Berkowitz - Former owner and CEO, JE Berkowitz LP
Bryna Berman, Esq. - Advocate for Women and Education
George W. Connell – The Haverford Trust Company
Jennifer Crawford - Blackney Hayes Architects
Donna De Carolis - Charles D. Close School of Entrepreneurship, Drexel University
Darryl J. Ford, Ph.D. – William Penn Charter School
John W. Glomb, Jr. - Philadelphia Insurance Companies
Liz Greco-Rocks - Advocate for Education and Mental Health
Patrick J. Hoyer – The Haverford Trust Company
Vince Lowry - Global Beta Advisors
John New - WorkMerk LLC
Stan Silverman - Vice Chairman, Drexel University
Hans Zandhuis – Chatham Capital, LLC
5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
REGISTRATION • DINNER STATIONS • OPEN BAR • SILENT AUCTION
7:15 PM
WELCOME AND GREETINGS BY JEFF HAMMOND, MASTER OF CEREMONIES
REMARKS BY AIM CO-FOUNDERS PAT ROBERTS AND NANCY BLAIR
REMARKS BY DR. DARRYL J. FORD & DR. GAIL SULLIVAN, P ’23, GALA CO-CHAIRS
AIM CHANGES LIVES - LIVE APPEAL TO SUPPORT AIM JEFF HAMMOND
SALLY L. SMITH FOUNDERS AWARD PRESENTATION TO ERIC I. MITCHELL, MD, MA, FACPE, CPE
AIM INSTITUTE FOR LEARNNG & RESEARCH LEADERSHIP AWARD PRESENTATION TO STRADLEY RONON
CLOSING REMARKS AL CHIARADONNA, P’22
8:45 PM DESSERT AND COFFEE
Katie Bruton
Audrey Era-Anavitate
Randi Fiergang
Erica Goodwin
Dionicia Hernandez
Jessica McKee
Lauren Napolitano
Tiffany Smith
Melissa Zeltser
Stradley Ronon
Al and Kristy Chiaradonna • Dr. Darryl Ford and Dr. Gail Sullivan•
• Philadelphia Insurance Companies • Stan and Jackie Silverman •
Bryna and Fred Berman • Chris and Pat Roberts • Crumdale Partners •
The Haverford Trust Company • Jon and Meredith Hoffman •
Margie and Jeffrey Honickman • PJ Dick • Scrub Daddy • WSFS •
Anne Ladenson • Arthur Berkowitz • Blackney Hayes Architects •
Bill Marino and Elizabeth Reynolds • Benjamin and Dana Oller •
Matt Pestronk and Carrie Gross-Pestronk • Meridian Bank •
William Penn Charter School • PNC Bank • Truist
Alison and Peter Ballantine • Andrea Smith • Anthony Party Rentals •
Curtis Alloy and Wendy Demchick Alloy • Dana and Gerald Mullaney •
David and Tara Friedman • D.M. DiLella Family Foundation • Donna De Carolis •
Dr. Eric I. Mitchell and Carmen Hayford • Edrisa Hyland and Michael Ford, Sr. •
Ellen Farber • Evelyn and Larry Krain • James and Joyce Faulkner - Faulkner Volvo •
Scott and Lee Ann Erlbaum - Floors USA • Hon. M. Joseph Rocks and Liz Greco-Rocks •
Kevin Baumlin and Patrick Mahanger • Jackie Allen • Jeff and Hanna Steinberg •
Jennifer Davey • James and Jocelyn Casey • Kelly and Chad Punchard •
Michael and Amanda Stern • Mitch and Melissa Codkind • Morris J. Cohen •
Nancy and Brian Blair • Ryco Roofing• Robert and Katherine Eaddy •
Steam Fitters Union 420
• Steve and Kristin Bowen •
St. Joseph’s University • Teresa Rodgers, Harp-Weaver LCC
• The Tustin Group •
Tom and Mollie Suddath • Travers Landscaping •
2008
Matthew S. Naylor - CEO, Crumdale Partners
2009
Dr. Edward Hallowell - Child and Adult Psychiatrist and Author
2010
Amy Ford - Author
Jon Runyan - Congressman
Michael O’Neill - Founder and CEO, Preferred Sands, LLC
2011
Dr. Tracey Johnson - CEO, Vessels of Hope
Phillip Schultz - Pultizer Prize-Winning Poet and Founder/Director, The Writers Studio
2012
Cinthia Coletti Haan - Founder, Chairman and COO, Colette/Haan Foundation for Children and The Coletti Institute for Education and Career Achievement
Dr. Stacy Gill-Phillips - CEO, West Philadelphia Achievement Charter Elementary
2013
James J. Maguire, Sr. - Founder and Chairman Emeritus, Philadelphia Consolidated Holding Corporation
David and Evan Yurman - Fine Jewlery and Luxury Timepiece Designers
2014
Kettner Grisworld, Sr. - Pegasus Chief Engineer, Orbital ATK
Jerry Pinkney - Illustrator of Children’s Books, Recipient of Caldecott Medal Award and Coretta Scott King Award
2016
Drexel University - Accepted by President John A. Fry
Honorable Edward G. Rendell
Marcus Soutra - President, Eye to Eye
2017
Senator Bob Casey - Senator, Pennsylvania
Jarrod Kahn - President, Accessories and Home Division, Global Brands Group
2018
Nick Bayer - Founder and CEO, Saxbys
Dr. Nikolai Vitti - General Superintendent, Detroit Public Schools Community District
2019
Rob Ervin - Engineering and Robotics Teacher
Kevin Baumlin - Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
Jenny Bogoni - Executive Director, Read by 4th Campaign
2021
Dan Hilferty - Former CEO, Independence Health Group
2022
Asher Raphael - Co-CEO, Power Home Remodeling Group
The Haverford Trust Company - accepted by Patrick Hoyer, Vice President & Portfolio Manager
Research shows that all young people experience learning losses when they do not engage in educational activities during the summer.
Grades 1-12
• Reading and Writing Reinforcement
• Math Skills Development
• Hands On Learning
• Executive Function
• Recreational and STEAM Exploration
• Decrease Summer Learning Loss
July 3 - July 28, 2023
Morning: 9:00 am - 12:30 pm
Full Day: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
www.aimpa.org/summerataim
Innovative teaching, fearless learning.
