KING OF PRUSSIA -- The King of Prussia District recently presented a $72,110 donation to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. The contribution was made on behalf of the restaurants, retailers and businesses that participated in the district's 11th annual KOP Restaurant Week and KOP Shops for CHOP in March.
The donation was 25 percent higher than in 2024, and is the second largest contribution since the KOP Restaurant Week campaign was launched in 2014. KOP Shops for CHOP was launched in 2019.
Since its inception, the campaign has raised a total of $496,116 for CHOP's King of Prussia campus, which is home to the Middleman Family Pavilion and the Specialty Care Center.
The funds were raised during KOP Restaurant Week, which ran from March 3 through March 14; and during KOP Shops for Chop, on March 8.
This year's campaign featured 18 fine dining restaurants, 11 fast-casual eateries, 17 retailers and 16 businesses that participated through the district's Community Champions program.
The fundraising was extended beyond dining and shopping, however, to include raffles that featured donated gift cards and merchandise valued at more than $6,000; and Upper Merion Area School District's Pajama Day on March 10, which raised more than $3,500 for CHOP.
Another highlight, according to the district, was the annual Block Party for CHOP, held on April 27 at King of Prussia Town Center. The event drew a record-breaking 1,800 attendees, a 64% increase from the previous year, and raised more than $4,000 in a single day through games, entertainment and community engagement.
By comparison, a total of 1,100 people attended the 2024 Block Party for CHOP.
This year's KOP Restaurant Week featured two-course lunches and three-course dinners from a variety of participating fine dining restaurants, as well as donation days and deals from participating fast-casual restaurants. KOP Shops for CHOP featured donation days and exclusive discounts from participating retailers.
"We're incredibly proud of what this community has achieved together -- raising nearly $500,000 for CHOP King of Prussia over the past 11 years," Eric Goldstein, president and CEO of King of Prussia District, said in a statement. "This campaign is a testament to the generosity, passion and unity of our business community, and we're honored to play a role in supporting CHOP's life-changing work for children and families."
KOP Restaurant Week and KOP Shops for CHOP serve a dual purpose: To put the focus on the dining and shopping options in King of Prussia -- while benefiting Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's King of Prussia Campus.
Prior to the start of this year's campaign, Goldstein said his organization is inspired every year by the generosity of the restaurants and retailers that pledge their support to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's King of Prussia Campus, adding that the diners and shoppers play a "vital role" in helping the district raise funds for CHOP.
King of Prussia District is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that represents 432 commercial property owners with a combined $2.3 billion in assessed property value. Founded in 2010 through Upper Merion Township ordinance, the King of Prussia District's mission is to accelerate economic growth in King of Prussia.