Soccer player helps keep
Fox Chase safe and secure

By Melissa Yerkov
Times Sports Editor

When Jessica Phillips was 5 years old, two things happened that would have a significant impact on her life.
One . . . she picked up a soccer ball for the first time.
And two . . . she joined her dad during his patrols with a neighborhood Town Watch group.
Now, 13 years later, Phillips has fashioned those choices into major achievements.
The Northeast Philadelphia resident helped Central High School’s soccer squad claim its fifth consecutive Public League championship on May 21. The Lancers blanked Franklin Towne Charter, 1-0, at Northeast High School, wrapping up another undefeated season.
In fact, during Phillips’ four years with the team, she has been part of an astonishing stretch of success for Central: 51 wins, zero losses and two ties.
"It feels great!" said Phillips, who played forward and served as team captain this year. "When I got to Central, they had already won the year before, so I was happy to continue the streak. It’s such an accomplishment to win for four years. I still can’t believe we did it.
"I really liked being captain," she continued. "It feels good winning, because as a captain you feel like you did a good job."
When she’s not leading the way on the soccer field, Phillips is taking charge in the community, having become an essential part of the Fox Chase Town Watch organization.
"I know a lot of teenagers my age who might choose the wrong path, so I like working with the Fox Chase Town Watch to help others," said Jessica, whose father Steve has been the president of the organization since 2004. "I go with my dad and another member on patrol, which is basically when you ride around the neighborhood and if you see anything suspicious, you call the cops and report it."
The 18-year-old’s motivation to stay involved in her community’s Town Watch group was spurred by a high-profile tragedy that, for Jessica, hit too close to home.
On Nov. 11, 1994, Fox Chase resident Eddie Polec, at the time a 16-year-old student at Cardinal Dougherty High School, was severely beaten by a gang of youths and died of his injuries. The incident occurred on the steps of St. Cecilia’s Church — about 50 yards from the Phillips home.
"Ever since then, we’ve had a Town Watch and that’s why we go on these patrols," said Jessica. "Fox Chase never felt it had a need for a Town Watch, but Eddie’s death changed everything."
Her father immediately joined the neighborhood watch and often took Jessica on patrol rides. She was too young to understand the magnitude of the situation, and she often fell asleep on patrol rides, but she’d eventually become a valued member of the group.
Now, after 12 years of volunteering, the ambitious youngster is the official Fox Chase Town Watch photographer, snapping shots of local events sponsored by the organization. She also has created and maintained an effective Web site for the organization, which has had more than 3,000 visitors.
The Web site, at www.foxchasetownwatch.org, includes many useful features, such as a link to report suspicious activity anonymously, crime-watch tips and bulletins, and information on local events in Fox Chase, such as the annual "National Night Out" planned this year for Aug. 5.
"I’ve never run a Web site before, so I’ve learned a lot," said Jessica. "It keeps the community involved, and if there are any questions, people usually contact my dad. We’ve gotten a lot of e-mails saying how the Web site has helped. We seem to get a lot of good feedback."
Jessica’s contributions recently earned her some local recognition. On March 9, she was honored as Fox Chase Town Watch Volunteer of the Year, and on March 18 she received the Young Women Making a Difference Leadership Award from City Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds-Brown. The award was given to only five senior students throughout Philadelphia.
Most recently, on April 1, Jessica received the 2008 Champions of Caring award for her volunteer work throughout the community.
"I am very proud that I got involved, and more importantly, proud to have kept Eddie’s memory alive," Jessica wrote in an essay she submitted for the Young Women Making a Difference Award. "Eddie’s tragic death has changed me in so many positive ways, and I better understand now and appreciate how valuable an experience it is to serve your community."
Later this summer, Jessica will be leaving her beloved Fox Chase neighborhood to pursue a college degree at the R.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. And although she won’t be able to join patrol rides with her father, Jessica plans to stay involved.
"I can still communicate through the Web site, and I’ll be back for some of the events," said Jessica, who also hopes to play soccer at the collegiate level. "I’m excited to live on my own and get the whole college experience. When I went up to visit, they said they have a lot of student associations that I could join . . . maybe even manage a Web site there, if there’s an opportunity. I’d like to get involved in things outside of the classroom." ••