EDDY Awards to honor Philly’s education leaders

This article was originally published in The Notebook. In August 2020, The Notebook became Chalkbeat Philadelphia.

The Philadelphia Education Fund will hold the 7th Annual EDDY awards Tuesday, November 15 to honor Philadelphia’s heroes and leaders in public education.

“The EDDY Awards honor the individuals, businesses, and organizations that represent the region’s educational success stories,” said Ed Fund Executive Director Carol Fixman in a press release.

The event will be held at the College of Physicians, 19 S. 22nd St. A small plates reception will begin at 5:30 p.m., and the awards ceremony and program will start at 6:45.

The winners of this year’s EDDYs are:

  • Walter P. Lomax, Jr., MD Lomax will receive the 2011 Star Alumnus EDDY, given to a distinguished alumnus/a of the Philadelphia public schools. Lomax, a graduate of Central High School, founded the Lomax Family Foundation, which provides funding for nonprofit organizations that serve the African American community.
  • Carole Haas Gravagno A lifelong advocate for parenting education, Haas Gravagno will receive the 2011 Star Commitment to Education EDDY. This honor is given to an individual or group who has displayed exemplary support for public education. Haas Gravagno currently sits on the boards of multiple arts and educational organizations in Philadelphia.
  • Tamanna Sultana Sultana will receive the 2011 Rising Star EDDY. She is a senior chemistry major at Temple University who has distinguished herself as a service-minded mentor to other students. Sultana moved to Philadelphia from Bangladesh six years ago, and plans to become a physician.
  • John & Kira’s The 2011 Star Business Commitment to Education EDDY will go to this gourmet chocolate store that uses products from urban school gardens in their chocolates. This business has won acclaim for providing educational opportunities through socially responsible business.

Past EDDY award winners include Kenneth Gamble, Philadelphia Student Union and Youth United for Change, Helen Gym, former District superintendent Constance Clayton, and many others.