Smith Memorial Playground and Playhouse

Party in the Playground

Party in the Playground is Smith’s annual fundraiser where the adults take over! Each year we honor Play Champions for their dedication and commitment to providing and promoting unstructured play for all children. The event features live music, an auction and raffle and fabulous local food and drink.

This year, we are honored to celebrate these outstanding play advocates.

Malkia Singleton Ofori-Agyekum

Malkia currently serves as the ParentChild+ Mid-Atlantic Regional Director and was hired in 2016 in conjunction with the launch of the GreenLight roll-out of ParentChild+ in Philadelphia. She has been overseeing the Program’s successful start-up and expansion in Philadelphia, as well as supporting sites elsewhere in the state and working on ParentChild+’s most recent expansion in Baltimore, MD. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Services from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and Master of Science in Early Childhood Education from the University of Pennsylvania. She also holds certificates in Early Childhood Mental Health from Widener University and Non-Profit Executive Leadership Institute (NELI) from Bryn Mawr College.

As a program designer, leader, and advocate in the fields of early childhood education and homeless services, Malkia has dedicated her time and talent to serving underserved communities in both Baltimore and Philadelphia. Her twenty-five years of experience as an administrator and advocate includes Vice President of Social Services at the People’s Emergency Center, Program Coordinator for Jumpstart Baltimore and Education Coordinator at Morgan State University Head Start. In addition, she is currently the co-chair of the Children’s Workgroup-Early Childhood Conference and co-chair of the Family Engagement Steering for the Read by 4th Campaign.

Jennifer DiVeterano Gayle

Jennifer joined Mannion Prior, LLP in September 2007 and was named a partner in January 2016. Jenn’s practice focuses on litigation involving trusts, estates, guardianships, and powers of attorney, including all forms of estate and trust disputes, will contests, surcharge and removal actions, interpretation issues, and other fiduciary matters before the Orphans’ Court Division of the Court of Common Pleas and the Register of Wills.Jennifer is also involved in several pro bono matters, including her on-going work as a Child Advocate with the Montgomery Child Advocacy Project (MCAP) and her prior representation of the Montgomery County District Attorney to obtain a guardianship in the case of abuse and neglect (Estate of Samuel Smith), for which she was publicly recognized and awarded the 2011 Citizen’s Crime Commission Award of Merit II. As a Child Advocate for MCAP, Jennifer volunteers her time to advocate for child victims of abuse, neglect and trafficking in the courts and social services agencies.

Robert W. Prischak

Bob Prischak (b. 11/01/1955; d. 02/23/2024) became a champion of Smith while a charitable trust officer at First Pennsylvania Bank. 2001 was a precarious time for Smith and the organization was on the brink of closing but Bob believed in Smith’s mission. Through wit, charisma, institutional sleight of hand, and dogged determination he pursued a way to resurrect Smith. It would not be an exaggeration to say that if Bob were not its bank officer at this most critical juncture, Smith would not be here in the magnificent state it is today.

Bob advocated for support from Councilman Michael Nutter (soon to be elected mayor) and they agreed that Smith had to be saved. Bob encouraged the formation of a board of directors committed to ramping Smith up, rather than winding it down. Bob paved the way for the board to successfully recruit a new executive director, Hope Zoss.

Bob also garnered support from Ida Newman to finance the Giant Wooden Slide’s restoration, which was in desperate need of repair. The return of the Giant Wooden Slide sparked the charitable engines of many generous supporters leading to the exciting revitalization that we see today.

In addition to Smith, Bob devoted acts of loving kindness to MANNA, Parent Infant Center, the West Philly Coop School, The Philadelphia School, Camp Bright Feathers, University City Green Tree Tenders and Congregation Mishkan Shalom.

Become a PIP Sponsor!

Benefits of sponsorship include promotional recognition on-site as well as through our social media channels, e-newsletters, and website, which reach over 25,000 followers, 15,000 subscribers, and 11,000 monthly website viewers. Party in the Playground also draws significant media coverage from print, online, and broadcast outlets. Learn more about becoming a Sponsor Here.