20 Years. 20 Thousand Dollars. 20 Small Businesses.

In early January 2021, the Reading Royals, proud ECHL affiliate for the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers and AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms announced its Royals20for20 Small Business Stimulus Campaign. In partnership with its four sponsors – Visions Federal Credit Union, Comcast Business, E.T. Electric and ServPro of Reading – the Royals vowed to contribute $20,000 to the small business community of Berks County.

Over several weeks in January, the Royals accepted nominations of local small businesses from the community. Over 300 nominations were submitted, highlighting businesses in various locations and industries within Berks County. Careful consideration was given to all nominations, giving priority to those businesses with the most nominations and then to those that described a business that, despite the hardships of 2020, had stepped up to support its employees and community.“Reviewing the nominations was truly heartwarming!” says Tammy Dahms, Director of Corporate Sales & Sponsorship for the team. “We learned of so many local businesses who put their employees and community first - businesses that coordinated toy drives, raised funds for out-of-work servers and bartenders; companies that first opened their doors only days before the shutdown and businesses that had been on the brink of shutdown if it weren’t for their faithful customers and clients. It has been humbling to support these businesses in this way.”

From those nominations, twenty area businesses were selected to receive $1,000 towards the purchase of gift certificates to be used during the 2021-2022 Royals season. Additionally, the twenty recipient businesses, as well as the four sponsor businesses, will be invited to meet and congratulate one another at a game during the upcoming 20th Anniversary Season.

The following businesses were selected:Beer Wall on PennBell Tower Salon & SpaBenchwarmers Coffee & DoughnutsCJ Hummel's Restaurant, Bar & Gathering PlaceFranklyn's Breakfast, Burgers and ShakesKangen Reading Water StoreLeesport Pet Resort LLCMayfield on NobleMike and Joe’s Barber ShopMimmo's RestaurantMount Penn Sports CardsPizza ComoReading Distilling GuildSkin Sanctuary SpaSly Fox Taphouse at the Knitting Mills WyomissingSweet Ride Ice CreamTavern on PennThanx Hair ArtistryThe Brick House PubWyomissing Restaurant and Bakery

About the RoyalsThe Royals are preparing for their 20th anniversary season and are proudly affiliated with the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers and AHL’s Lehigh ValleyPhantoms. The Royals won the Kelly Cup in 2013, have clinched a playoff berth 15 times, and are four-time division champions. The BerksCounty Convention Center Authority (BCCCA), founded in 1996, owns the Royals and oversees operations at Santander Arena and theSantander Arena Performing Arts Center.