5:00 PM - 10:00 PM REGISTRATION * DINNER STATIONS * OPEN BAR * SILENT AUCTION
6:30 PM - WELCOME & GREETINGS
7:00 PM - DINNER
7:30 PM - STUDENT PERFORMANCE
7:40 PM - REMARKS
7:50 PM - DIFFERENCE MAKERS TRIBUTE
8:00 PM - RECOGNITION & REMARKS FOR GALA HONOREES PAT ROBERTS AND NANCY BLAIR
8:15 PM - PROGRAM SURPRISE
8:20 PM - STUDENT REMARKS
8:25 PM - PADDLE RAISE & EAGLES RAFFLE
8:45 PM - AFTER PARTY Gala 2026
The Heartbeats Band - Music and Dancing | Dessert Stations and Coffee | Open Bar | Silent Auction | Photo Opps
Helium Comedy Club
Jackie Allen
Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream
Jessica Hammel
Katerina Zisman
Kathy Healey
Lark
Le Bernardin
Longwood Gardens
Main Line Art Center
Meridee Winter School of Music
Nancy’s Candy Corner
O’Sullivan Family
Other World Philadelphia
Pandora
Pat Roberts and Nancy Blair
Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Flyers
Philadelphia Rocks Gym
Rivers Casino
Smoke and Mirrors Magic
Theatre
Sonic Promos
Spring Mill Cafe
STARR Restaurants
Stone Newman
The APC
The Ballantine Family
The Codkind Family
The Franklin Institute
The Tuza Family
The Welch Family
Tomato Shack
Voracious Hospitality
Wawa
Whitmarsh Township Fire Department
2026 AIM For the Stars Gala Sponsors
FOUNDERS
Farber Family Foundation • Haverford Trust Company • Pat and Chris Roberts • The Raphael Family Foundation
20th ANNIVERSARY SPONSOR
Ballantine Family • Nancy and Brian Blair • Global Beta Advisors - Vince and Karen Lowry • Maximus Partners • Nimbl • PHLY Foundation • PPR Capital Management
FACULTY & STAFF TRIBUTE SPONSOR
Chad and Kelly Punchard • WSFS Bank
AIM ALUMNI TRIBUTE
Brian Communications • Al and Kristy Chiaradonna • John and Kate Murphy • National Advisors Trust • PJ Dick • Jackie and Stan Silverman • Denny and Ann Tuza • Hans and Terri Zandhuis
WOLFPACK
Jackie Allen • Arthur and Lisa Berkowitz • Anchor Mechanical • Bryna and Fred Berman • BLBB Charitable • Equus Partners • James J. Fitzgerald, IV Family • Darryl Ford and Gail Sullivan • Dave and Vardhana Goswami • Amy and Kris Pietrzykowski • The Lab School of Washington • David and Tracy Reller • Jennifer and Matt Rusk • Michael and Amanda Stern Stradley Ronon • Woods System of Care
PIONEER
1031 CORP • Curt Alloy and Wendy Demchick-Alloy • The Edward Taylor Coombs Foundation • Jennifer Davey • Elaine and Len DeStefano • EisnerAmper • Peter Hilton-Kingdon and Kathy Ochroch • John and Amy Korman • Christine and Brian Lobley • Read by 4th Philadelphia • Thomas and Josephine Rees • The Safegard Group • The Saramar Charitable Foundation/Jeff and Margie Honickman • Dodi and Bob Strunk • Travers Landscaping
AIM FAMILY
Mitch and Melissa Codkind • Caroline and Jason De Marco • Faulkner Volvo • Sid and Swapna Ghosh • DeSola Group • M. Joseph Rocks and Elizabeth Greco-Rocks • Tine and Brian Hansen-Turton • The Hoyer Family • Hallam Hurt • Michael and Amy Kopelman • Margo McDonnell • Nave Newell, Inc. • Truist • Jeff and Hanna Steinberg • Yeager Financial Services
About Our 2026 Gala Honorees
Pat Roberts
Patricia M. Roberts is Co-Founder of AIM Academy and the AIM Institute for Learning & Research. In 2022, she and co-founder Nancy Blair received the International Dyslexia Association’s Excellence in Leadership Award for their transformative impact on literacy education and teacher training through AIM Pathways.
A passionate educator and entrepreneur, Pat has built multiple organizations dedicated to advancing research-based instruction. She has forged key partnerships with leading literacy researchers, including the Haskins Global Literacy Hub and Florida Center for Reading Research, to accelerate research into practice.
Under her leadership, AIM has grown from a single school into a national movement—empowering educators and transforming lives through literacy.
Nancy Blair
Nancy G. Blair is Co-Founder of AIM Academy and the AIM Institute for Learning & Research. With a background as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, she brings a deep understanding of the science of learning to her work advancing evidence-based literacy instruction.
Nancy has led educator training initiatives and helped build partnerships with leading research organizations, including the Haskins Global Literacy Hub and Florida Center for Reading Research, accelerating the translation of research into practice.
A founding force behind AIM’s growth, she continues to champion a future where every child can build a strong foundation in literacy and unlock their full potential.
2025 - 2026 Board of Trustees
Stan Silverman - Chair, Trustee, Drexel University
Brian Lobley - Vice-Chair, Tango
Elliot Holtz - Treasurer, Noro Properties, LLC
Darryl K. Ford, Ph.D. - Secretary, Carney, Sandoe and Associates
Patricia M. Roberts - Co-Founder, AIM Academy
Nancy G. Blair - Co-Founder, AIM Academy
Al Chiaradonna - CEO, AIM Academy
Arthur Berkowitz - J.E. Berkowitz LP
Erin Coombs – Wawa
Jennifer Crawford - Blackney Hayes Architects
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
Michael Stern – Tower Health
Denny Tuza – Apple
Hans Zandhuis – Chatham Capital, LLC
EMERITUS
Matthew S. Naylor
Marvin N. Demchick *
Jackie L. Allen
Marvin Alloy * Hon. Wendy Demchick Alloy
Bryna Berman
George W. Connell * - Deceased
Remembering Board Trustee Pat Hoyer
Patrick “Pat” Hoyer will be remembered as a dedicated leader, generous supporter, and valued member of the AIM community. As a member of the AIM Board, Pat brought not only his time and expertise, but also a deep belief in the power of education to change lives.
Pat’s commitment to service extended far beyond titles. He approached his work with integrity, humility, and a genuine desire to make a difference—qualities that resonated deeply with AIM’s mission to transform and empower lives through literacy. His contributions helped strengthen our community and advance our shared vision of ensuring that every child has the opportunity to succeed.
Those who had the privilege of working alongside Pat knew him as someone who led with both heart and purpose. His legacy at AIM lives on in the impact he helped create and the countless lives touched through his support.
We are grateful for Pat’s leadership, his generosity, and the lasting mark he leaves on our community. He will be deeply missed and always remembered.
Past Honorees
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 2023
Dr. Eric Ignatius Mitchell - Orthopedic Surgeon Stradley Ronon - in memory of Alan Gedrich, Lawyer and AIM Board of Trustees Member 2024
John W. Glomb, Jr. - President & CEO, Philadelphia Insurance Companies
Tim Odegard Ph.D.- Professor of Psychology 2025
Matthew S. Naylor - CEO, Crumdale Partners
Clarence C. Crawford - Founder, Teach ‘em to Fish CDC
