News Release
Swim coach and inspiration for the movie "Pride" to address MHS Seniors
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Jim Ellis will be the keynote speaker for Milton Hershey School's (MHS) Commencement on Sunday, June 10. The ceremony will begin at 2:00 p.m. in Founders Hall Auditorium; admittance by ticket holders only.
Jim Ellis, a swim coach and the inspiration behind the recently released film, Pride, will speak on the power of dreams and the ability to inspire and transform lives. Ellis founded the P.D.R. (Philadelphia Department of Recreation) swim team in one of Philadelphia's most impoverished neighborhoods in 1971. Today, it is the city's nationally recognized competitive swim team, the nation's best predominately African-American team, and has become a model for urban swim programs around the country.
Over the past 36 years, Ellis has been introducing competitive swimming to inner-city youth and their families. His coaching has provided a healthy and stimulating environment in which the young athletes can grow and compete and brings together families from diverse ethnic backgrounds. Through travel to various competitions, the program exposes swimmers to other parts of the country and different lifestyles. Ellis teaches his swimmers more than just how to compete in the water; he gives them important and life-changing lessons that prepare them for a better future.
The recently-released film, Pride, follows Ellis, played by Oscar nominee Terrence Howard, on a journey that pulls together a group of troubled inner-city kids, makes them into a dedicated swim team, and teaches them how to overcome adversity through hard work and determination. Through this emotional journey, Coach Ellis also discovers his team has a lot to teach him as well.
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Contact: Office of Communications, 717-520-2205
