PHILADELPHIA…June 5, 2012… Claude Giroux had a breakthrough season few Flyers fans will forget, and it culminated with the right winger being honored today with the prestigious 2012 John Wanamaker Athletic Award at a ceremony at the Wanamaker Building's Crystal Tea Room. The Philadelphia Sports Congress (PSC), a division of the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PCVB), presents the award each year in conjunction with Amerimar/Behringer Harvard.

Jerry Segal was also recognized with the Sports Congress' Robert P. Levy Community Service Award, presented to an individual or organization that has done the most to “improve the quality of life in Philadelphia through sports,” based on his tireless effort to raise money for Magee Rehabilitation Hospital.

In addition, a Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Comcast-Spectacor Chairman Ed Snider.  Snider brought an NHL franchise to Philadelphia when he founded the Flyers in 1967, and was the driving force behind the construction of the Spectrum and Wells Fargo Center.

The City of Philadelphia's Parks & Recreation Department also awarded its second annual Sports Volunteer of the Year Award to Joe and Roseann Kirlin, whose mission is to provide financial support that fosters participation in wheelchair sports for children in Philadelphia and surrounding areas. The award is presented annually to the “men and women in our community whose exemplary volunteer efforts have made a real difference in the lives of our City's young people through sports.”

This season, Giroux tallied 28 goals and 65 assists for 93 points. He also led the NHL in scoring during the first round of the playoffs. This is the third time a Flyers player has been recognized with the award, but the first since goalie Bernie Parent in 1975. Giroux also joins Bobby Clarke and the Flyers Stanley Cup Champion team from 1974, coach Fred Shero in 1976, and the 1980 squad which reached the Cup Finals.

“This is a great honor,” said Giroux. “It is an individual award, but hockey is a team game. Without my teammates, this would not be possible.”

Since 1961, the Wanamaker Athletic Award has been presented to the athlete, team or organization that has done the most to reflect credit upon Philadelphia and to the team or sport in which they excel.  Past winners include Chuck Bednarik, Julius Erving, Bernie Parent and Mike Schmidt, among others.

After being paralyzed as a result of neck surgery in 1988, Segal committed himself to helping others recovering from similar injuries at Magee.  Twenty three years later, the Jerry Segal Golf Classic has netted an incredible $10 million for Magee.   

“It is an honor to share my passion and my passion has always been sports-related,” said Segal. “How fortunate I am to have friends like this that share my passion for helping others.”

Among his many accomplishments, Ed Snider, a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, created the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation to bring the “the greatest game ever invented” to children who otherwise might never have the opportunity to play.

“What a great lifetime it has been,” said Snider. “The success I have achieved is because of the great fans of this city; in my opinion the greatest fans in the world. I am honored to receive this very special award.”

Based in South Philadelphia, the mission of the Katie Kirlin Fund is to provide financial support that fosters participation in wheelchair sports for children in Philadelphia and surrounding areas.

“We are very thankful to the Philadelphia Sports Congress and the Philadelphia Department of Recreation for this great honor,” said Joe Kirlin.

The Philadelphia Sports Congress, Amerimar/Behringer Harvard, CBS-3 and the Philadelphia Daily News present the Wanamaker Athletic Award ceremony and luncheon. The public participated in the nomination process via ballots in the Philadelphia Daily News and online during April. The Wanamaker Selection Committee, consisting of a cross-section of sports and media representatives, made the final decision. CBS-3's Beasley Reece emceed the event.

Photos posted on flickr – www.flickr.com/PhiladelphiaCVB.

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The Philadelphia Sports Congress (PSC), a division of the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau, www.PhiladelphiaUSA.travel, seeks to attract major sporting events and conventions to the Philadelphia area. The Sports Congress, working in conjunction with the City of Philadelphia, the city's professional teams and universities, has attracted many events to the city and is currently working on bids for future sporting events.