The Billies look back at a year full of notable Philadelphians

About Billy Penn readers and fans gathered to celebrate all things Philly at WHYY on Wednesday night as the hyperlocal news site hosted its Billies Awards an annual celebration honoring notable public members and groups in the City of Brotherly Love Founded in BillyPenn s local news coverage connects residents both to noteworthy events and issues in the district as well as each other The outlet aims to be more like a friend who happens to be really knowledgeable about Philadelphia the greatest city in the world The Billy Penn awards Emma Lee WHYY Thomas Miles has been reading Billy Penn for years The Philly sculptor says that he appreciates the unique local aspect the outlet provides Another reader Julian Plotnick echoed this sentiment I try to keep up with a lot of different local news Plotnick disclosed I think Billy Penn in particular has a nice on-the-ground kind of spin to it The unit expanded this year bringing on general assignment reporter Violent Comber-Wilen as well as food and heritage reporter Julia Binswanger joining deputy editor Heather Chin investigative reporter Meir Rinde trending news reporter Nick Kariuki and editor Kevin Donahue The Billy Penn Club celebrates another effective awards ceremony at WHYY Emma Lee WHYY Last year the event was Billy Penn s th anniversary and looked back over the entire decade This year s Billies were focused squarely on Wednesday night s celebrations presented awards to Chivonn Anderson the founder of Marsha s South Street Robert Malissa a magician who combines history and comedy on his walking tours Rev Carolyn C Cavaness the first woman pastor of Mother Bethel AME Church Naw Day and the Karen Neighborhood Association of Philadelphia Tomomi and Kosuke Chujo owners of a Philly-themed sports bar in Tokyo The No Arena Coalition represented by Jenny Zhang of API PA Cinytha Hioe of Asian Americans United and Melissa McCleery Philly ASMR comedian Betsy Kenney Oronde McClain director of Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting s Survivor Connection which provides both training and encouragement to casualties of gun violence Chivonn Anderson owner of Philadelphia s first women s sports bar Marsha s receives the business Billie from Billie Penn trending news reporter Nick Kariuki Emma Lee WHYY When she s not at Marsha s Anderson works as a realtor A job that requires driving from home to home across the city she says WHYY radio is constantly on in the car and credited populace media for shaping the person she is in the present day I grew up learning the greater part of the things I know about myself from WHYY Anderson disclosed It s one of the coolest things in the world to be receiving an honor from organizations that helped raise me and are literally one of the reasons why Marsha s exists The Billie for history goes to Robert Malissa for his Philly Magic Tours Emma Lee WHYY This year s Billies included more than speeches Robert Malissa gave the crowd a taste of his comedy magic walking tour turning old individual state currencies into U S dollars with the wave of a hand In a gag introduction to one of BP s the greater part popular social media moments of every year Billy Penn s DIY Halloween Costume video WHYY s Carmen Russell-Sluchansky portrayed the dad in the infamous Phillies Karen event this summer When he walked on stage to collect a Billies award for being a good sport he was thwarted by none other than the Phillies Karen as played by Billy Penn s Nick Kariuki WHYY Reporter Carmen Russell-Sluchansky portraying Philly dad Drew Feltwell accepts a fake Billie for good sportsmanship only to have it taken away by fake Philly Karen during hijinks at the Billies awards at WHYY Emma Lee WHYY The laid-back atmosphere of the award show coupled with highlighting serious achievements of Philly area members is emblematic of the outlet Billy Penn strives to be Donahue says the association has a mission to appeal to non-traditional news consumers We re trying to be a news provider that thinks and speaks and reports to you in a way that is less formal is more relatable but constantly has integrity and intelligence Donahue announced Julia Binswanger Philly tradition reporter at Billy Penn awards the food Billie to Tomomi and Kosuke Chujo who accepted by video from Japan Emma Lee WHYY Not all the honorees were able to accept their awards in person Kenney was booked for a show out of town and the Chujos are back home running their Philly-themed sports bar in Tokyo s Nihonbashi neighborhood The pair sent a video to Billy Penn to share at the event It s hard that we can t attend in person Kosuke revealed But please know we are celebrating with you from across the ocean Attendees at the Billies applaud during the awards ceremony put on by Billy Penn Emma Lee WHYY The post The Billies look back at a year full of notable Philadelphians appeared first on Billy Penn at WHYY