Temple’s Office of Community Relations joined forces with the Pearle Theater and area community organizations last month to offer campus neighbors a family-friendly night out.

More than 160 North Philadelphia residents attended a mid-June screening of Iron Man 2, the first-run action film featuring the Marvel Comics superhero. Tickets were compliments of the university.

"Movie night is just one of the things we do to give back to the community and help improve the quality of life for our neighbors,” said L. Harrison Jay, Temple’s director of Community Partnerships. “With the cost of tickets, transportation and snacks, a lot of families can’t afford a night at the movies. This is part of our effort to provide recreational opportunities for young people and their families.”

Attendees included members of the YMCA of Philadelphia and Vicinity, Norris Homes Community Center and Tree House Books, nearby community organizations that regularly partner with the university to offer services to the underserved.

For at least one family, the extra help made a difference.

"Sometimes it can be very hard to have extracurricular activities for the children because my finances are limited to paying the bills,” said Daisy Coffey, a grandmother of four who wrote to offer her thanks to the participating organizations. “I appreciate that we are one of the families that took advantage of movie night.”

Movie night is set to become a regular occurrence. The Office of Community Relations is planning a showing of Karate Kid later this month.

—Elizabeth DiPardo