The Power of Showing Up Together
Inside Get Ready Fest® 2025
What does it look like when a community refuses to let families struggle alone?
It looks like hundreds of people showing up before the doors open.
It looks like volunteers moving with purpose.
It looks like families walking in with uncertainty—and leaving with relief, resources, and renewed hope.
That was the spirit of Get Ready Fest® 2025.
A Collective Model for Real Impact
As the Malcolm Jenkins Foundation celebrates 15 years of impact, it remains committed to a bold vision:
To help transform the lives of 1 million youth by 2040—through education, financial literacy, leadership development, and community well-being.
Get Ready Fest® is one way that vision comes to life.
This year, the event brought together more than 50 community partners, 75+ volunteers, corporate and nonprofit sponsors, and local organizations to create an ecosystem of support for families across Philadelphia.
It’s not about what one organization can do alone.
It’s about what becomes possible when everyone shows up together.
More Than an Event
Step inside Get Ready Fest®, and it becomes clear—this is more than a resource fair.
Families aren’t just receiving—they are engaging.
Connecting. Choosing. Learning.
There is energy. There is care. There is intention.
And there is something you can feel immediately:
a community in motion.
What Families Experienced
More than 800 Philadelphia families were supported through Get Ready Fest®.
They left with:
Fresh groceries and produce
Essential household and dignity products
Health screenings and wellness resources
Employment, education, and financial support connections
For many, the impact was immediate.
Meals for that night.
Support for the week ahead.
Opportunities that extended beyond the day itself.
A Space for Joy
While parents gathered resources, children were given something just as important:
Space to be kids.
Laughter filled the air.
Faces lit up.
Moments of joy—simple, but meaningful.
Because even in the midst of challenge, joy matters.
A Moment Recognized Across the City
The impact of Get Ready Fest® has not gone unnoticed.
The City of Philadelphia has recognized this model as a powerful example of what’s possible when government, nonprofits, corporate partners, and community volunteers align around families.
Through the leadership of the Office of Children and Families and the Department of Human Services, this collaborative approach helps reach more families, provide more comprehensive support, and strengthen the infrastructure that allows communities to thrive.
“Get Ready Fest® is more than an event,” said Kimberly Ali.
“It’s a celebration of our families and neighborhoods. We’re proud to support the Malcolm Jenkins Foundation in creating a space where families can access the resources they need and feel the strength of their community around them.”
“As families face unprecedented challenges, collaborative efforts that bring together government, nonprofit organizations, corporate partners, and community volunteers create comprehensive support systems that truly make a difference,” Ali added.
“Together, we’re building a stronger, more resilient Philadelphia—one family at a time.”
🎥 Watch the Recap
Built on Partnership
This work is powered by collaboration.
With leadership from the Five Below Foundation™ as Visionary Sponsor and Jefferson Health as Health & Wellness Village Sponsor, along with contributions from Philabundance, Sysco, Chelten House, Operation Warm, and many others, Get Ready Fest® reflects what it means to align around purpose.
Together, this network ensures that support is not only delivered—but delivered with dignity.
A Model That Matters
Through signature initiatives like Get Ready Fest®, the Malcolm Jenkins Foundation demonstrates how community-centered programming can both address urgent needs and create pathways toward long-term stability.
This is not just about responding to need.
It’s about building something that lasts.
One Day. Lasting Impact.
What happened at Simon Gratz High School wasn’t just about distribution.
It was about connection.
It was about care.
It was about a community choosing to show up.
And when that happens—
real impact follows.
