A North Philadelphia Nonprofit for Kids Gets a Boost from PECO Ways to Save

The Blues Babe Foundation, created by singer Jill Scott, partners with PECO Ways to Save on improved lighting and special events.

When singer and actress Jill Scott started the Blues Babe Foundation 16 years ago, she aimed to give back to the North Philadelphia community she had lived in as a youngster. Alongside a team of dedicated professionals, she created the nonprofit organization as a launchpad for “young brilliance,” cultivating academic and artistic success in young people from the most underserved communities within North Philadelphia and Camden.

“We want to be the place where children can come and have a safe haven and do their work and network and learn with each other,” said Lance Toomer, head of partnership development.

Specifically, Scott and her team wanted to lift up kids who were finding academic success but who might not have access to scholarships and resources to boost their education. At the foundation’s free summer camp, the focus is on life skills: Volunteers and counselors teach about leadership, financial literacy and health and wellness. In addition, an after-school media program gives kids access to audio and music recording equipment, fostering musical and storytelling passions. Blues Babe programs made kids light up. But the program’s building wasn’t well lit.

For years, the Blues Babe Foundation offices and community center had been plagued by dim, flickering lights. Some fixtures had even stopped working altogether. But when they contacted a local contractor for help, they were shocked at the project estimate they received. “Those costs can be prohibitive,” says Aisha Winfield, interim executive director. Toomer noted that he thought they were “going to have to do a whole fundraiser just to get money for lighting.”

Instead, Blues Babe connected with PECO Ways to Save, who identified incentives that could help fund most of the LED lighting upgrades they needed. The project was completed in less than two weeks.

Interior and exterior LED lighting upgrades made the facility feel brighter and more energetic, giving kids and staff a lively place to connect, do homework together and work on creative projects. “It brightens the entire space,” said Winfield. “It’s almost like being out in the sunshine.”

The Blues Babe Foundation also partners with PECO to support summer camp programming through events like PECO Power Days, which sends kids on field trips and inspires them to dream big. “Not only did they support the trips that the kids were taking, but they also brought their staff in to talk to the kids about different careers they could consider,” Winfield said. “We first started working with PECO about 3 years ago and it has just been an amazing relationship.”

To learn more about the impactful work of this organization and contribute to their success, head to bluesbabefoundation.org.