And the winners are...
Judge Kevin M. Dougherty
Wendy “Lady B” Clark
Service to Community Award
Entertainment Award
“I want the black robe I wear to be viewed by those who come before me as a beacon of hope rather than a symbol of fear.” Dougherty has committed his life to the pursuit of justice and equality for the residents of this City and their families since 2001, when he served as a Judge for the Court of Common Pleas. High ideals, integrity and strength of character have followed Dougherty throughout his career as head of Family Court, where he spent a decade serving our most vulnerable and at-risk citizens. His reforms led to a massive decline in the number of children in foster care, a surge in adoptions and made Philadelphia a national leader in the collection of child support. He currently serves as Administrative Judge for the Court of Common Pleas Trial Division, the state’s largest civil and criminal trial court system.
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“You can look like anything on the outside but what’s more important is that you’re beautiful on the inside.” Since her DJ days at WHAT to Power 99 to WRNB to Old School 100.3, Lady B has been the voice of hip-hop for more than three decades, introducing Philly to rap through artists like Run DMC, LL Cool J and Public Enemy. Not only was Lady B among the first to play this exciting new genre of music, she was also the first woman to record a rap song. Her 1979 track, “To the Beat, Y’all,” went gold. And let’s not forget that she launched the career of childhood friends DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince when she played “Girls Ain’t Nothing but Trouble” for the first time on her show. Photo courtesy of 100.3 WRNB, Interactive One, LLC
2015 Blue Sapphire Awards gohomephilly.com
Merrill Reese
Patti LaBelle
2015 Harry Kalas Memorial Sports Award
Lifetime Music Achievement Award
“I love this team. I grew up here. I rooted for this team forever. This is the team that I loved. I wore the Eagles jerseys as a little kid.” (courtesy CBS Philly)
“I am blessed and trying to live up to the blessings.”
As play-by-play announcer for the Philadelphia Eagles, Reese has served as a prominent, if not - the most prominent - voice in Philadelphia for the past 34 years. One of our city’s most respected authorities in the sports media arena, Reese has been honored by organizations including the All American Football Association and the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. He began broadcasting football, baseball and Big 5 college basketball while attending Temple University. After graduation from Temple, he served as a Public Relations officer for the U.S. Navy before starting his career at WPAZ in Pottstown. Reese has been commended for exceptional volunteer efforts, including work with The March of Dimes, the Eagles Youth Partnership and Eagles Fly for Leukemia. He is managing partner, VP and GM of WBCB in Levittown, PA. His renowned broadcasts can be heard on 94 WYSP, Sportsradio 610 WIP and a host of network affiliates throughout the tri-state region.
Known worldwide as the Queen of Soul, Patti LaBelle’s accomplishments in the music and entertainment industries are truly inspirational. Grammy Hall of Fame. Hollywood Walk of Fame. Apollo Hall of Fame. Songwriters’ Hall of Fame. World Music Legend Award. Singer. Songwriter. Actress. Author. Mother. As the lead singer of LaBelle, her 1974 “Lady Marmalade” (Nightbirds) made it to iconic status during the start of disco, selling more than a million copies and landing the group on the cover of Rolling Stone. LaBelle soon after embarked on a solo career, where she continued to make history, selling more than 50 million records worldwide. In addition to her music and acting career that has spanned more than 50 years, LaBelle supports numerous organizations such as the American Foundation for AIDS Research, Women Alive Coalition and Clothes Off Our Back. In 2007, she received the Excellence in Media Award by GLAAD (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) for her extensive work for gay and lesbian rights. She continues to perform to sold-out crowds in the U.S. and Canada. Rolling Stone Magazine includes LaBelle in its 100 Greatest Singers List, citing her as an influencing factor to “generations of soul singers” including Luther Vandross, Alicia Keys, Beyonce, Mary J. Blige and Christina Aguilera.
This award is presented annually in honor of individuals who have helped preserve the unique traditions that define our City’s culture, history and diversity of lifestyles. Your passionate commitment to the City of Philadelphia continues to inspire generation after generation, attesting to the fact that all great accomplishments begin with a dream.