Summer to Remember: Phambassadors Welcomed the World to Philadelphia
Philadelphia knew it was in for a big summer. With [...]
Summer to Remember: Phambassadors Welcomed the World to Philadelphia
Philadelphia knew it was in for a big summer. With [...]
Philadelphia knew it was in for a big summer.
With the FIFA World Cup, the nation’s 250th birthday, MLB All-Star Weekend and the PGA Tour bringing visitors from around the world, the city was about to get very, very busy. Before the crowds arrived, the Phambassadors were already getting ready.
Since spring of 2025, Phambassadors have received offers, discounts, and exclusive opportunities to become reacquainted with Philly. On top of that, Phambassadors met other Phams at various Pham Camps, attended virtual Philly cultural sessions, and participated in training sessions on the best ways to greet visitors. When all was said and done, Phambassadors received their official uniforms and let the world ask them anything about Philly.
The mission was simple: put proud Philadelphians where visitors needed them most. What came from it was a summer of new friendships, unexpected discoveries and a whole lot of Philly pride.
For lifelong Philadelphians like Teresa Mulligan, it was another chance to fall in love with the city. She said it’s the little things that keep bringing her back—the neighborhoods, the beauty, the down-to-earth friendliness, the “smart *ssness” and, especially, the willingness of people to help.
Tom Ley grew up in Bloomfield, New Jersey, and first came to Philadelphia for college. After graduating from Haverford and spending years relocating for work, he and his family eventually ended up back in the Philly suburbs.
His connection to the city goes back even further, though. While he was in college, Tom volunteered with an off-campus organization, and one night in early December the group went to the Wanamaker Holiday Light Show.
“I was instantly hooked on Philly at that moment,” he said. More than 40 years later, Tom was back at the Light Show as a Phambassador – saving the cultural institution from extinction.
Welcome to Philly
Nearly 1.4 million visitors came through Philadelphia during the summer, and the Phambassadors were there to greet them. Pham could be found at the Independence Visitor Center, City Hall, LOVE Park, Reading Terminal Market, Philadelphia International Airport, The Philly Pride Visitor Center and along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, working through heat waves, thunderstorms and wildfire smoke with maps and recommendations in hand.
The questions were predictable: How do I use SEPTA? Where’s the closest Wawa? Where should I get a cheesesteak? What should I see while I’m here?
For the Phambassadors, answering them was part of the fun.
At Reading Terminal Market, Aaron Ronksley would ask visitors what they were craving, point them toward a vendor and send them on their way. His favorite moments came when they returned later to thank him and report that the food was as good as promised. Teresa and Tom had similar experiences while being at the “center of the action” at the Independence Visitor Center, where visitors would come back during her shift to thank her for an earlier recommendation.
The timing of the Phambassador program also worked out pretty well. Tom retired in May 2025 and saw an article about the program in the Inquirer about a week later. He attended the first Pham Camp and liked the idea of having something to do that kept him connected to the city.
Mike Wendell took the role just as seriously. During an interview, he noticed a visitor nearby who looked confused and stopped mid-conversation to help.
Sometimes, the Phambassadors even discovered something themselves.
Marilyn Garlen met three Croatian fans searching for Cret Park, where soccer fans were gathering before a march down Broad Street. She helped them find it, despite never having heard of the park herself. So, while she was helping visitors discover Philadelphia, she was discovering a new part of the city, too.
Right in the Middle of History
The numbers tell part of the story. Nearly 410,000 fans attended Philadelphia’s six World Cup matches at Lincoln Financial Field, while hotel occupancy reached 90 percent over the July Fourth weekend.
The Phambassadors didn’t just watch the historic summer happen, they were part of it.
Pham volunteered directly with FIFA at the matches and Fan Fest, helping fans from Brazil to Mexico navigate the city. They helped form the Human Liberty Bell for the semi quincentennial, supported MLB All-Star events, joined soccer marches and celebrations, and helped rally soccer fans on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
On the semiquincentennial itself, the Pham’s celebrated the historic moment in the Historic District, distributing10,000 cupcakes, handing out patriotic merchandise, helping with photo ops and advising visitors on games and activities.
Teresa was working at the Independence Visitor Center when an international visitor pointed at one and asked, “What is cupcake?” Luckily, someone came by with one she could show him.
It’s a small story from a very big summer, but it captures what the Phambassadors did better than any statistic could.
From Phambassadors to a Philly Phamily
The summer also brought together people who might never have crossed paths otherwise. Pham members swapped stories, shared recommendations, built professional connections and found new friends to grab a drink with after a long shift. There wasn’t one Phambassador experience: one member might work a World Cup event while another helped visitors at Reading Terminal Market, led a City Hall tour or worked with the Youth Phambassador program.
However, what they shared was their love for Philadelphia, and naturally, they shared plenty of opinions about it.
Where’s the best place to eat? Is Villanova a Philly school? Which coach needs to be fired? Why are New Jersey drivers like that? And, most importantly, why does anyone think ketchup belongs on a cheesesteak?
Philadelphians are known to have strong opinions, a hard shell and a healthy amount of sarcasm. But when someone needs help, we’ll stop what we’re doing and point them in the right direction, even if we’re going to give them a hard time along the way. The Phambassadors raised the bar for what visitors can expect when visiting Philly – authenticity, heart, and hospitality.
Tom said the people are one of the reasons he keeps coming back, the visitors he meets and the other Phambassadors. He also likes that no two assignments are quite the same; one day can look completely different from the next, depending on the event and where you’re working.
More Than a Summer
The Phambassadors started the summer with a simple goal: bringing together people who were proud to call Philadelphia home and putting that pride to work.
By the end, they had helped visitors and locals navigate one of the city’s busiest summers ever, made new friends, discovered new parts of their own neighborhoods and given millions of visitors a glimpse of Philadelphia through the people who live here.
Tom hopes to make the experience for every visitor “a little more fun, a little more memorable, a little more enjoyable.” He sees each Phambassador assignment as another chance to do that.
We gave locals and visitors maps, SEPTA advice, cheesesteak recommendations, directions to Cret Park and, apparently, a crash course in cupcakes. Not a bad (re)introduction.
Philadelphia has heart. It has grit. It has opinions about everything. But most of all, it has people who will stop and help when you need them. That’s what the Phambassadors showed the world this summer, but honestly, we knew they would.
Philadelphia knew it was in for a big summer.
With the FIFA World Cup, the nation’s 250th birthday, MLB All-Star Weekend and the PGA Tour bringing visitors from around the world, the city was about to get very, very busy. Before the crowds arrived, the Phambassadors were already getting ready.
Since spring of 2025, Phambassadors have received offers, discounts, and exclusive opportunities to become reacquainted with Philly. On top of that, Phambassadors met other Phams at various Pham Camps, attended virtual Philly cultural sessions, and participated in training sessions on the best ways to greet visitors. When all was said and done, Phambassadors received their official uniforms and let the world ask them anything about Philly.
The mission was simple: put proud Philadelphians where visitors needed them most. What came from it was a summer of new friendships, unexpected discoveries and a whole lot of Philly pride.
For lifelong Philadelphians like Teresa Mulligan, it was another chance to fall in love with the city. She said it’s the little things that keep bringing her back—the neighborhoods, the beauty, the down-to-earth friendliness, the “smart *ssness” and, especially, the willingness of people to help.
Tom Ley grew up in Bloomfield, New Jersey, and first came to Philadelphia for college. After graduating from Haverford and spending years relocating for work, he and his family eventually ended up back in the Philly suburbs.
His connection to the city goes back even further, though. While he was in college, Tom volunteered with an off-campus organization, and one night in early December the group went to the Wanamaker Holiday Light Show.
“I was instantly hooked on Philly at that moment,” he said. More than 40 years later, Tom was back at the Light Show as a Phambassador – saving the cultural institution from extinction.
Welcome to Philly
Nearly 1.4 million visitors came through Philadelphia during the summer, and the Phambassadors were there to greet them. Pham could be found at the Independence Visitor Center, City Hall, LOVE Park, Reading Terminal Market, Philadelphia International Airport, The Philly Pride Visitor Center and along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, working through heat waves, thunderstorms and wildfire smoke with maps and recommendations in hand.
The questions were predictable: How do I use SEPTA? Where’s the closest Wawa? Where should I get a cheesesteak? What should I see while I’m here?
For the Phambassadors, answering them was part of the fun.
At Reading Terminal Market, Aaron Ronksley would ask visitors what they were craving, point them toward a vendor and send them on their way. His favorite moments came when they returned later to thank him and report that the food was as good as promised. Teresa and Tom had similar experiences while being at the “center of the action” at the Independence Visitor Center, where visitors would come back during her shift to thank her for an earlier recommendation.
The timing of the Phambassador program also worked out pretty well. Tom retired in May 2025 and saw an article about the program in the Inquirer about a week later. He attended the first Pham Camp and liked the idea of having something to do that kept him connected to the city.
Mike Wendell took the role just as seriously. During an interview, he noticed a visitor nearby who looked confused and stopped mid-conversation to help.
Sometimes, the Phambassadors even discovered something themselves.
Marilyn Garlen met three Croatian fans searching for Cret Park, where soccer fans were gathering before a march down Broad Street. She helped them find it, despite never having heard of the park herself. So, while she was helping visitors discover Philadelphia, she was discovering a new part of the city, too.
Right in the Middle of History
The numbers tell part of the story. Nearly 410,000 fans attended Philadelphia’s six World Cup matches at Lincoln Financial Field, while hotel occupancy reached 90 percent over the July Fourth weekend.
The Phambassadors didn’t just watch the historic summer happen, they were part of it.
Pham volunteered directly with FIFA at the matches and Fan Fest, helping fans from Brazil to Mexico navigate the city. They helped form the Human Liberty Bell for the semi quincentennial, supported MLB All-Star events, joined soccer marches and celebrations, and helped rally soccer fans on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
On the semiquincentennial itself, the Pham’s celebrated the historic moment in the Historic District, distributing10,000 cupcakes, handing out patriotic merchandise, helping with photo ops and advising visitors on games and activities.
Teresa was working at the Independence Visitor Center when an international visitor pointed at one and asked, “What is cupcake?” Luckily, someone came by with one she could show him.
It’s a small story from a very big summer, but it captures what the Phambassadors did better than any statistic could.
From Phambassadors to a Philly Phamily
The summer also brought together people who might never have crossed paths otherwise. Pham members swapped stories, shared recommendations, built professional connections and found new friends to grab a drink with after a long shift. There wasn’t one Phambassador experience: one member might work a World Cup event while another helped visitors at Reading Terminal Market, led a City Hall tour or worked with the Youth Phambassador program.
However, what they shared was their love for Philadelphia, and naturally, they shared plenty of opinions about it.
Where’s the best place to eat? Is Villanova a Philly school? Which coach needs to be fired? Why are New Jersey drivers like that? And, most importantly, why does anyone think ketchup belongs on a cheesesteak?
Philadelphians are known to have strong opinions, a hard shell and a healthy amount of sarcasm. But when someone needs help, we’ll stop what we’re doing and point them in the right direction, even if we’re going to give them a hard time along the way. The Phambassadors raised the bar for what visitors can expect when visiting Philly – authenticity, heart, and hospitality.
Tom said the people are one of the reasons he keeps coming back, the visitors he meets and the other Phambassadors. He also likes that no two assignments are quite the same; one day can look completely different from the next, depending on the event and where you’re working.
More Than a Summer
The Phambassadors started the summer with a simple goal: bringing together people who were proud to call Philadelphia home and putting that pride to work.
By the end, they had helped visitors and locals navigate one of the city’s busiest summers ever, made new friends, discovered new parts of their own neighborhoods and given millions of visitors a glimpse of Philadelphia through the people who live here.
Tom hopes to make the experience for every visitor “a little more fun, a little more memorable, a little more enjoyable.” He sees each Phambassador assignment as another chance to do that.
We gave locals and visitors maps, SEPTA advice, cheesesteak recommendations, directions to Cret Park and, apparently, a crash course in cupcakes. Not a bad (re)introduction.
Philadelphia has heart. It has grit. It has opinions about everything. But most of all, it has people who will stop and help when you need them. That’s what the Phambassadors showed the world this summer, but honestly, we knew they would.
