HAVERTOWN — Like most parents, Michael and Jenny Mallick of Havertown would do anything for their children.
The Mallicks’ youngest son Gregory was born with Down syndrome.
The parents proved their unconditional love, once again, by running over 340 miles in the Run For 3.21 event from Los Angeles to Las Vegas to raise money for the National Down Syndrome Society.
The Run For 3.21 event set off from California’s Santa Monica Pier, just before sunrise on World Down Syndrome Day, March 21. The Mallicks and their team of runners spent more than 50 hours running relay-style through the Mojave Desert, day and night, to complete the course.
Participants were required to be able to run 35 to 45 miles over a three-day period in desert-like conditions that included uneven terrain, extreme weather, and wildlife. The runners ate and slept in an RV, which accompanied the team during their run. They reached their final destination of Las Vegas on Saturday, March 23.
Surpassing their combined goal of raising $100,000, the Mallicks and their team of 20 courageous runners included a good friend of theirs, Matt Walker, also of Havertown. Walker’s daughter has two close friends with Down syndrome.
Jenny and Michael Mallick became involved in supporting the National Down Syndrome Society shortly after son Gregory, who will turn 9 years old this week, was born. This isn’t their first run to support NDSS. They have participated in the Marine Corp Marathon, New York City Marathon, and four different other runs from New York to Washington D.C., all in support of NDSS. They also have organized a popular Quizzo event in Havertown and several other fundraisers to support NDDS.
The run event this past week has drawn in over $10,000, just from their own individual fundraising page. From all of their different running-themed fundraisers through the past decade, the Mallicks estimate they have raised well over $50,000 for NDSS to increase awareness and to create a vision of a world in which all people with Down syndrome have the opportunity to enhance their quality of life, realize their life aspirations, and become valued members of welcoming communities.
“Our youngest son, Gregory, came into our lives nine years ago and was born with Down syndrome,” explained Michael Mallick. “Gregory is truly an amazing little guy and teaches me what is important in life every day. When he is not making us all laugh, you may find Gregory playing music, running a 1-mile race, enjoying the beach, earning medals at a swim meet or kicking butt at a boxing class to name a few of his interests. All of us, including those like Gregory, are born with infinite potential and limitless possibilities.”
For more information, or to contribute through the Mallicks’ fundraising page for National Down Syndrome Society, go to: https://give.ndss.org/fundraiser/5224203.
Prospect Park Free Library celebrates 100 years
The Prospect Park Free Library Board and staff will join with the community to celebrate its 100th birthday on Tuesday, April 9.
The celebration will begin at 7:30 p.m., with recognition by the Prospect Park Borough Council at its regular meeting in borough hall, followed by cake and light refreshments in the library, 720 Maryland Ave., Prospect Park.
For more information about the historic milestone, call Prospect Park Free Library at 610-532-4643.
Villagers of Newtown Square learn about elder fraud
The Villagers of Newtown Square held their monthly meeting on March 21 at the Overbrook Country Club, Newtown Square.
A brief business meeting by President Marge DeYoung was followed by lunch and a program on elder fraud by Detective Brian Layton of the Delaware County Criminal Investigative Unit who works in the district attorney’s office and often assists local police departments in investigations and other more intricate police work.
Layton was accompanied by two Villanova University students, Victoria Diaz and Anna Marino, who are studying forensic accounting. The video presentation gave the older adults some specific advice on avoiding identity fraud, since seniors are often a targeted group for these crimes.
Tickets available for St. Timothy’s pasta dinner
St. Timothy’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 535 Lamp Post Lane, Aston, will host a pasta dinner from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday April 6 in the church social hall. Tickets are $20.
For tickets or more information, call Nancy DiFabrizio at 610-506-8670.
Delco performer sings tribute to years at Monsignor Bonner High School to cast of ‘Delco: The Movie’
Delaware County singer-songwriter Paul Marturano will perform his original song “Delco Girl” live on Tuesday for actors Brian O’Halloran, Brian Dunkleman, Brian Anthony Wilson, and the cast of “Delco: The Movie” during a filming break on Tuesday at Springfield Presbyterian Church in Springfield.
Marturano is contributing the song to the movie’s soundtrack. While the cast and crew hear the song for the first time, Marturano will also help educate the cast on the Delco accent and other nuances they should know while filming in Delaware County.
“Delco: The Movie” is a coming-of-age comedy/drama film written, directed and produced by Chris Pierdomenico scheduled for a late 2024 release.
“Delco Girl,” produced by Marturano and multiple Grammy winner Joe Nicolo, is a heartfelt tribute to Marturano’s own high school days at Monsignor Bonner High School in Drexel Hill.
“The song captures the essence of youthful friendships, and the memories shared along a tree-lined path at Archbishop Prendergast, the girls’ school next door,” said Marturano. “The lyrics reflect the passage of time, with the line ‘they tore down the trees, but the memories are there still.’ ”
Pierdomenico, the creative force behind the “Delco” movie, recognized the resonance of “Delco Girl” with one of the film’s lead characters, a spirited and somewhat mischievous girl. The lyrics, especially the refrain “A Delco girl don’t take it slow,” encapsulate the essence of the character and the film’s narrative, which was inspired by Pierdomenico’s experiences in 2004 at Sun Valley High School in Aston.
Marturano, a Daytime Emmy winner for his work on “Who Wants to be a Millionaire,” rose to prominence through his memorable appearance on “American Idol” in 2008. Performing 100 to 150 live piano rock shows annually, Marturano continues to make a mark on the music scene.
His discography, boasting close to 50 songs available on various streaming platforms, has garnered nearly 1 million streams in 2023 just on Spotify alone.
“Delco Girl” is his second most popular song with over 168,000 streams. His song “Broad Street” about the Philadelphia Flyers has been played on many Philadelphia radio stations.
Marturano’s unique journey has been featured in various publications such as The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Washington Post, Rolling Stone and People. The performer has shared the stage with musical luminaries like Les Paul, Eric Bazillian of the Hooters, and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Vini Lopez of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band.
After a successful crowdfunding campaign in summer 2023, “Delco: The Movie” began production in November and filmed at various iconic Delco locations, including Wawa and Tom Jones Restaurant.
Filming is set to resume on March 25, with “Clerks” star Brian O’Halloran, “The Wire” and “Creed” actor Brian Anthony Wilson, and original “American Idol” co-host Brian Dunkleman. The production team is partnering with local Delco businesses and individuals to raise funds to finish filming. Interested locals (a.k.a. Delconians) are encouraged to visit www.delcothemovie.com to learn how to get involved.
Pierdomenico is an award-winning filmmaker who has been writing, directing and producing movies since he was a senior at Sun Valley High School 20 years ago, where he created the original “Delco” movie.
Since then, he has made over a dozen short films, currently produces and co-hosts a podcast with Brian Dunkleman called DunkleVision, and teaches TV/video production and journalism at Oxford Area High School.
Listen to Delco Girl on Spotify at https://tinyurl.com/2dauhryc. Listen to Delco Girl on Youtube at https://tinyurl.com/3ndt88pj.
Readers can send community news and photos to Peg DeGrassa at pdegrassa@21st-centurymedia.com.
