M&T Bank, 6500 Castor Ave., last week presented school supplies and a check for $15,000 to Mastery Charter Smedley Elementary School.
The event took place in M&T’s parking lot. M&T vice president Randy Kunkle and branch manager Cassandra Bell made the donation to Smedley, 1790 Bridge St. in Frankford.
Accepting the donation were principal Cait Murphy and assistant principals Danielle Nicoletti, Isaac Hebron and Megan Baker.
The day included a DJ, food, hopscotch and Jenga.
The school and recess supplies included balls, jump rope, chalk, notebooks, crayons, book bags, glue, pencils and pens.
The $15,000 will go to new playground equipment and a bench dedicated in memory of Jamel Parks and his dad, Jerry, who were shot to death in May as they sat in their car outside their Wissinoming home. Jamel, 9, was a third-grader at Smedley. The bench will be next to an existing butterfly garden.
In addition, M&T will provide financial literacy instruction for students and staff in the fall, and Bell said the bank plans to make the supplies giveaway an annual event.
“This is amazing,” Murphy said of M&T’s commitment.
M&T chose to support Smedley because it is located between its branches on Castor Avenue and at 7121 Frankford Ave. Smedley has about 800 pupils in kindergarten through sixth grade. ••
