Seven local Rotarians rappel from the 29th floor of a Center City building to raise $22,881 for Outward Bound School’s programs that serve Philadelphia’s at-risk youth

By Jay Pennie

(l-r) Team Rotary members, Ken Myers, Dennis Wallace, and Greg Bradley rappel down the building at 2005 Market St. 300 feet. Photo credit: Alejandro A. Alvarez, Philadelphia Inquirer

Three Rotary clubs in the Philadelphia area joined forces last Friday to support the Philadelphia Outward Bound School’s peer-to-peer fundraiser, Building Adventure. To participate in this high-adrenaline adventure, participants were challenged to first raise sufficient funds (at least $1,750 each) and then rappel 315 feet down the Brandywine Realty Trust’s building at Commerce Square in Center City Philadelphia.

According to a school official, the group, dubbed “Team Rotary,” far surpassed their goal and raised $22,881 from 159 donors, the second highest amount of any group. The team was comprised of Rotary members from the Philadelphia, West Chester, and Greater West Chester Sunrise clubs.

The event is a natural fit with Outward Bound School’s expeditionary learning approach, an educational framework that emphasizes high achievement through active learning, character development and teamwork—across diverse learning environments. 

Team Rotary, organized by Dennis Wallace, a Wealth Advisor at Comprehensive Wealth Management Group and member of the Greater West Chester Sunrise club, was joined by fellow member Daniel Dunn, a retired military pilot, William Ronayne and Melissa Baxter from West Chester, and three members from the Philadelphia club, Greg Bradley, Ken Myers, and David Reinfeld.

(l-r) Team Rotary members suit up in preparation for their Building Adventure. Ken Myers, Greg Bradley, William Ronayne, Daniel Dunn, Melissa Baxter, Dennis Wallace, and David Reinfeld.

The team was cheered on by dozens of friends and supporters including Rotary Club of Philadelphia’s President, Alex Snyman, a Financial Advisor at Barilotti Wealth Strategies, LLC, and Lisa Leonard, Voiceover Artist who helped announce the event’s festivities and follow the participants as they rappel down the building with a special phone tracking application.

(l-r) Lisa Leonard with Eric Park, Philadelphia Outward Bound instructor, making announcements and tracking participants as they rappel down the building.

“This is just one of the many opportunities that Rotary provides for our members to serve the community and be challenged and grow as an individual,” according to Snyman. “We offer monthly service opportunities from preparing meals for families in need to improving the local environment.”

Rotary International is one of the largest humanitarian organizations in the world with 1.2 million members, 35,000 clubs, and 16 million volunteers in 200 countries with a focus on supporting the environment, improving local communities, supporting education, providing clean water and sanitation, saving mothers and children, and promoting peace.

“Team Rotary’s coordinated effort to raise money for Outward Bound was the most rewarding part of the process for me,” said Myers, President of Coral, a company he co-founded that provides hospitality services for the entertainment industry. “Our team went above and beyond to help contribute to a great cause and generate donations that will indelibly impact the lives of kids in underserved and underprivileged areas throughout the city of Philadelphia.”

“I was honored to be part of the challenge for a great cause with my Rotary colleagues,” said Reinfeld, Director of Development for Federation Early Learning Services.

The school uses the wilderness as a classroom and related activities as vehicles for learning and regularly visits the Delaware Water Gap, the rocky Appalachian Trail, and Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park. Activities include, backpacking, rock climbing, canoeing, map and compass use, a high ropes challenge course, service projects and leadership training. In 2019, the Philadelphia Outward Bound School served over 8,000 students on single day Insight programs and multi-day expeditions.

“Admittedly, I do not love heights. But the Outward Bound trainers did an awesome job preparing us and I felt ready by the time I rappelled,” said Bradley, a Relationship Manager for Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia. “Thanks to Rotary for the additional support and “nudge” to make the jump.”

(l-r) Ken Myers and Dennis Wallace begin their ascent down. Photo credit: Alejandro A. Alvarez, Philadelphia Inquirer

“I was honored to be part of these efforts and look forward to taking part in future initiatives with my Rotary colleagues,” said Myers, who also rappelled in 2019.

Based on this year’s success, there’s no doubt that Myers and the rest of the team will want to regroup next year!

Find out how you can become a member of the Rotary Club of Philadelphia or make a donation to the Rotary Foundation of Philadelphia.