Phillies & Toyota Announce Frontline Heroes to be Honored on Opening Day
The faces of 41 extraordinary frontline heroes now surround Citizens Bank Park and will soon be celebrated by the Phillies and their fans, along with Toyota, on Opening Day.
The frontline heroes were selected from nearly 500 nominations submitted in early February by fans, who all shared heartwarming and personal video testimonies of local essential workers who stepped up to the plate to help the city and the community during the pandemic.
After taking part in a recent Phillies photo shoot, the honorees are now being spotlighted on official “Frontline Hero” street banners that flank the ballpark. The banners, typically reserved for Phillies players, were installed last week.
In addition, the Phillies and the local Tri-State Toyota Dealers Association, who is a sponsor of this program, will honor the selected frontline heroes as part of Opening Day ceremonies on Thursday, April 1, at Citizens Bank Park. Each will take the field for a heartfelt tribute, which will be broadcast live on NBC10 as part of their “Welcome Home Phillies” pregame show. Two lucky frontline heroes will also dance with the Phillie Phanatic in the fifth inning and all honorees will attend the game with a guest.
Throughout the season, these essential workers will also get the chance to tell their story in a “Frontline Hero Video Series” that will air during Phillies games and on the team’s YouTube channel.
“We were overwhelmed by our fans’ passionate stories of so many brave individuals who have been on the front lines since the onset of the pandemic,” said Michael Harris, Phillies Vice President, Marketing & New Media. “As we celebrate the excitement of our home opener, we tip our caps to all these remarkable men and women who represent the countless essential workers who continually go above and beyond every day.”
To see the banners of the frontline heroes, please visit http://www.phillies.com/frontlineheroes.
Frontline Heroes Selected to be Honored by the Phillies & Toyota
Kathy Albert - School Bus Driver, West Deptford, NJ
Abby Anderson - Community Leader, New Castle, DE
Angela Babcock - Director of Nursing, Springfield, PA
Misty Becker - Regional Rail Conductor, Philadelphia, PA
Sadia Benzaquen - Physician, Penn Valley, PA
Shereé Bonnenberg - Nurse, Williamstown, NJ
Vicky Borgia - Family Physician, Philadelphia, PA
Jason Briggs - School Principal, Yardville, NJ
Paola Bukovcan - Dentist, Elkins Park, PA
Joon Choi - Pizza Shop Owner, Lower Gwynedd Township, PA
Alilya Deininger - Nurse & ICU Manager, Sicklerville, NJ
Mary Ellen Derstine - Housekeeping Aide, Palm, PA
Rachel Feiner-Gellis - Physician Assistant, Marlboro, NJ
Jason Goldstein - Funeral Director, Linwood, NJ
Barry Gould - Supply Chain Director, Langhorne, PA
Jay Green - Steak & Hoagie Joint Owner, Langhorne, PA
Marc Haro - School Nurse, Glassboro, NJ
Julia Hennessey - Nurse, Levittown, PA
David Jones - Kitchen Aide, Philadelphia, PA
Dave Kovalsky - Physician, Philadelphia, PA
Katie McCormick - Nurse, Howell, NJ
Karen Metro - School Nurse, Huntingdon Valley, PA
Keith Mitchell - Grocery Store Cashier, Marlton, NJ
Arden Moore - Special Ed Teacher, Pottstown, PA
Janice Moore - Nurse, Horsham, PA
Teri Pacheco - Respiratory Therapist, Mt. Laurel, NJ
Mairead Pfeil - Nurse, Willow Grove, PA
Rob Pryor - Firefighter, Wilmington, DE
Joseph Rowland - Food Services Director, Egg Harbor City, NJ
Sam Santiago - Outreach Worker, Philadelphia, PA
Cassie Savoy - Nurse, Philadelphia, PA
Thomas Scirrotto - Delivery Driver, Lindenwold, NJ
Shannon Sell - Police Officer & Nurse, Souderton, PA
Greg Solly - Mail Carrier, Haddon Heights, NJ
Jennell Thomas - Track Welder, Wilmington, DE
Paul Varzaly - Warehouse Associate, Philadelphia, PA
Dominic Vesper - Vaccination Site Team Leader, Gloucester Twp, NJ
Drew Walls - Physical Therapist Assistant, Philadelphia, PA
Kerri Wenerick - Nurse, Enola, PA
Jean White - Cat Scan Technologist, King of Prussia, PA
Chen Yang - Optometrist, Marlton, NJ