History
In 1997 Mark Bellomo & Brian Schnarr, students and community members joined forces and formed a group of concerned community members in the hopes to bring young people together in Lower Moreland & Bryn Athyn to prevent the kinds of problems that resulted in Eddie Polec’s death. Eddie Polec, 16 years old, was beaten and killed on November 11, 1994 in front of St. Cecilia’s Church in nearby Fox Chase, Philadelphia. “The tragic beating & killing of Eddie Polec was the driving force for this project and that a youth center was needed”, said Mark Bellomo. (Quote, Globe Newspaper)
Many dedicated adults & students came together for hundreds of hours of labor shoveling & hauling away debris left over from years of an abandoned utility room that was located at the lower level of the Red Lion School, currently, the Valley Youth Center & the Huntingdon Valley Library lower level.
These dedicated individuals cared enough to believe that someday soon a youth center will thrive in this location. The project to refurbish & revitalize the lower portion of the building at 625 Red Lion Road was spawned from the collective minds of concerned residents who believed that their children needed a safe place to meet.
Mark Bellomo said…”we want to give them a place other than the streets, a place of their own to hang out”. (Quote, Globe Newspaper).
Mark Bellomo, Valley Community Outreach, aka Valley Youth Center President is the owner of a local business, Bellomo-Diem Plumbing, and a lifelong resident of Huntingdon Valley. He is married to Annette, and is the father of twins, Mark & Gina. Mr. Bellomo and his wife are Lower Moreland High School graduates and Mark Bellomo is a Lower Moreland Hall of Fame member.
Brian Schnarr, Bryn Athyn resident and Bryn Athyn College Professor, spent his whole life working with youth activities and former dean of Bryn Athyn College, said, “participating with the youth center was a natural extension of my work”. “We have the potential to be a model for other communities”. (Quote, Globe Newspaper).
Megan Dunn, President of the Student Volunteers, Lower Moreland resident, and Lower Moreland High School freshman, said, that “there was no place to hang out, she was easily committed”. Megan Dunn was one of twelve Lower Moreland & Bryn Athyn teens who agreed to serve as an extension of the organizations primary board.
Megan Dunn Stroup is currently a mother of two children and married to Erin Stroup, Lower Moreland High School Music Director, and is a teacher at the Murray Avenue Middle School.
To make the Valley Youth Center become a reality after one year of hard work & dedication, money raised, grants from State Representative Roy Cornell & State Senator Hank Salvatore, donations of goods and services by local businesses, Dianna Sullivan, Murray Avenue School 6th grade Teacher and Interact advisor, as well as many other organizations the Valley Youth Center was opened in 1998.
On the first day open the Valley Youth Center was packed with over 80 children and Mark Bellomo said, “I think this is going to be a successful place”.
Kurt Mayer, President of the Lower Moreland Board of Commissioners said, “It seems like $250,000 investment has paid off,” Mayer concluded, he added, “there has definitely been a need for this Center for some time, anything the Township can do to help, we’ll certainly do so.” (Quote, Globe Newspaper) Kurt Mayer supported the Valley Youth Center until his demise on July 14, 2007.
Original Board Members
Student Board Members
Current Day
The Valley Youth Center has been totally remodeled twice, once in 2003 and in 2008 because a flood took place.
The Center made many much-needed upgrades in 2010 and 2011, installing a new organizational coat hanging system, purchasing new window shades, installing a new heating pump and air conditioner the unexpected installation of a new hot water heater, shelf and sink. This summer we purchased much needed new counter tops as well as up-graded the paint features to make the place look real cool for the children.
The 2,100 square foot Valley Youth Center, continues to serve as a safe haven for the children in the community and has been enjoyed for many years by the children to meet with their friends and classmates for recreational & social activities. Many community & and school groups enjoy the Center on a daily basis.
The Valley Youth Center “has been touching the lives of many children, community & school groups as well as other non-profit groups in the Lower Moreland & Bryn Athyn communities for years. We serve as the hub of the community and Lower Moreland is unique in that not many other communities have an offering like this for their children or their residents.” Quote from current President, Denise Kuritz.
Many dedicated adults & students came together for hundreds of hours of labor shoveling & hauling away debris left over from years of an abandoned utility room that was located at the lower level of the Red Lion School, currently, the Valley Youth Center & the Huntingdon Valley Library lower level.
These dedicated individuals cared enough to believe that someday soon a youth center will thrive in this location. The project to refurbish & revitalize the lower portion of the building at 625 Red Lion Road was spawned from the collective minds of concerned residents who believed that their children needed a safe place to meet.
Mark Bellomo said…”we want to give them a place other than the streets, a place of their own to hang out”. (Quote, Globe Newspaper).
Mark Bellomo, Valley Community Outreach, aka Valley Youth Center President is the owner of a local business, Bellomo-Diem Plumbing, and a lifelong resident of Huntingdon Valley. He is married to Annette, and is the father of twins, Mark & Gina. Mr. Bellomo and his wife are Lower Moreland High School graduates and Mark Bellomo is a Lower Moreland Hall of Fame member.
Brian Schnarr, Bryn Athyn resident and Bryn Athyn College Professor, spent his whole life working with youth activities and former dean of Bryn Athyn College, said, “participating with the youth center was a natural extension of my work”. “We have the potential to be a model for other communities”. (Quote, Globe Newspaper).
Megan Dunn, President of the Student Volunteers, Lower Moreland resident, and Lower Moreland High School freshman, said, that “there was no place to hang out, she was easily committed”. Megan Dunn was one of twelve Lower Moreland & Bryn Athyn teens who agreed to serve as an extension of the organizations primary board.
Megan Dunn Stroup is currently a mother of two children and married to Erin Stroup, Lower Moreland High School Music Director, and is a teacher at the Murray Avenue Middle School.
To make the Valley Youth Center become a reality after one year of hard work & dedication, money raised, grants from State Representative Roy Cornell & State Senator Hank Salvatore, donations of goods and services by local businesses, Dianna Sullivan, Murray Avenue School 6th grade Teacher and Interact advisor, as well as many other organizations the Valley Youth Center was opened in 1998.
On the first day open the Valley Youth Center was packed with over 80 children and Mark Bellomo said, “I think this is going to be a successful place”.
Kurt Mayer, President of the Lower Moreland Board of Commissioners said, “It seems like $250,000 investment has paid off,” Mayer concluded, he added, “there has definitely been a need for this Center for some time, anything the Township can do to help, we’ll certainly do so.” (Quote, Globe Newspaper) Kurt Mayer supported the Valley Youth Center until his demise on July 14, 2007.
Original Board Members
- Mark Bellomo, President, Lower Moreland resident
- Brian Schnarr, Dean of Bryn Athyn College
- Harry Hoover, Secretary, Lower Moreland School Board
- Sue Smith, Huntingdon Valley resident
- Ruth Sweeney & Bob Sweeney
- David Diamond
- Bob Ashead, Esquire
Student Board Members
- Megan Dunn (President)
- James Pellani
- Robin Cooper
- Megan Asplundh
- Jennie Shapiro
- Josh Cooper
- Gladrial Echols
- Heidi Schnarr
- Naomi Stiner
- Paul Lim
- Seth Irwin
- Dan Leer
- Shannon O’ Sullivan
- Peter Brown
- Martha Hyatt
- Kira Saneson
Current Day
The Valley Youth Center has been totally remodeled twice, once in 2003 and in 2008 because a flood took place.
The Center made many much-needed upgrades in 2010 and 2011, installing a new organizational coat hanging system, purchasing new window shades, installing a new heating pump and air conditioner the unexpected installation of a new hot water heater, shelf and sink. This summer we purchased much needed new counter tops as well as up-graded the paint features to make the place look real cool for the children.
The 2,100 square foot Valley Youth Center, continues to serve as a safe haven for the children in the community and has been enjoyed for many years by the children to meet with their friends and classmates for recreational & social activities. Many community & and school groups enjoy the Center on a daily basis.
The Valley Youth Center “has been touching the lives of many children, community & school groups as well as other non-profit groups in the Lower Moreland & Bryn Athyn communities for years. We serve as the hub of the community and Lower Moreland is unique in that not many other communities have an offering like this for their children or their residents.” Quote from current President, Denise Kuritz.