On Saturday, October 4, 2025, the Philly Joy Bank hosted a first birthday celebration at Smith Memorial Playground! The party marked both the one-year anniversary of the program's launch and a cumulative celebration of all the babies born to mothers enrolled in the program.
Over 40 participants and their families enjoyed snacks, playing on the playground, and getting to know each other. There were also family portraits, infant CPR demonstrations, and opportunities to bond with other participants from their neighborhoods.
Participants shared how the Philly Joy Bank has impacted their lives and their families. One mom said, "Super thankful I got to meet the people that helped make my pregnancy and postpartum experience nice! This program gave me time to get my mind together surrounding the birth of my daughter… and took a lot of stress from her dad and I. I'm going to send some of the pictures of the things I was able to do BECAUSE of the Joy Bank!”
In addition to the families who attended, the Philly Joy Bank team welcomed Philadelphia Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Palak Raval-Nelson, Pennsylvania State Representative Morgan Cephas, evaluation partners from Drexel University, project funders, and community education tables.