Philadelphia Corp. For Aging Gets Foundation Grant

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Philadelphia Corporation for Aging, which provides funding for elderly Philadelphians who can't afford to pay their bills for home heating, medicine, or food, now has a new infusion of cash.

At "Center in the Park" in Germantown, Andrew Swinney, president of the Philadelphia Foundation (far right in photo), presented a $120,000 check to PCA's emergency fund.

Swinney says the need in Philadelphia is vast.

"We have twice the percentage of seniors in poverty in this town compared with the rest of the country," Swinney said.

One of those people is Stanley Clark, who has twice received money from the fund.

"One time last year for help with my gas bill," Clark recalled.

Lynne Fields Harris, executive director of Center in the Park, says her phone is always ringing.

"...asking for help with oil and for the neighborhood energy center which provides other forms of energy assistance."

But officials say that just because the fund has this new cash infusion doesn't mean that additional donations aren't needed.  Donors may go to www.philafound.org (select "Give Now") or mail a check to:

The Philadelphia Foundation
1234 Market Street, Suite 1800
Philadelphia, PA 19107

Reported by Michelle Durham, KYW Newsradio 1060.