Press Release

(August 14, 2009) As a way of paying tribute to their colleague, Harry Kalas (left), the Philadelphia Phillies broadcasters are pleased to announce the creation of The Kalas Award, a college scholarship given annually to a student in the Philadelphia region who hopes to become a sports broadcaster, perhaps following in the footsteps of the late, Hall of Fame voice of the Phillies.

The Kalas Award will be given annually to a rising college junior at Philadelphia-area colleges and universities who has expressed a desire and shown initiative toward a career in sports broadcasting.

Phillies radio and TV broadcasters Larry Andersen, Scott Franzke, Gary Matthews, Tom McCarthy, Chris Wheeler and Jim Jackson together have funded the Philadelphia Broadcasters Foundation, a charitable trust whose primary purpose is the funding, selection and distribution of scholarship awards for local students.

"We were looking for a way to establish a lasting legacy in Harry's honor," said Andersen, "and the scholarship seemed like the right way to go. Harry touched so many lives with his work, with his soothing voice and his generosity of spirit; we believe this is a fitting way to continue that generosity for years to come."

Kalas, who passed away on April 13, 2009, while preparing to do what he loved most, was for 39 years the voice of the Philadelphia Phillies. Enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002, Kalas joined the Phillies in 1971 and was for generations of fans not only the voice of the Phillies, but also an inspiration to countless young fans who pursued the same career path.

Scholarship applications and the complete eligibility requirements are available online at www.phillybroadcasters.org. Fans interested in honoring Harry's legacy by contributing to The Kalas Award scholarship fund are encouraged to visit the website or call 215-218-5228 for more information. Donations can also be made payable to the Philadelphia Broadcasters Foundation, P.O. Box 20139, Philadelphia, PA 19145.

Currently, the Philadelphia Broadcasters Foundation is an organized trust awaiting 501(c)(3) designation from the United States Internal Revenue Service. As with any tax deduction, donors should consult a tax advisor as to the deductibility of contributions to the Foundation.

ABOUT PHILADELPHIA BROADCASTERS FOUNDATION:

Formed in May 2009, the Philadelphia Broadcasters Foundation began as a means of honoring the legacy of the late Harry Kalas. Harry's remaining colleagues in the Philadelphia Phillies broadcast booth (Larry Andersen, Scott Franzke, Gary Matthews, Tom McCarthy and Chris Wheeler) together formed the Foundation in the hopes of awarding scholarships each year to aspiring sports broadcasters. Instead of just a simple scholarship program the Foundation was also formed with a vision of future charitable endeavors designed to impact the Philadelphia region. You can learn more about the Philadelphia Broadcasters Foundation, its trustees and ways to help the Foundation by visiting www.phillybroadcasters.org.

blog comments powered by Disqus

Accerlerate Your Sports Broadcasting Career

Meet Employers

Secrets Revealed

Radio Demos, Resumes

TV Demos, Resumes

Sports Broadcasting Books

Sportscastings Jobs

Show Prep Links