Local Politics Matter, a new political action committee focused on charity and political awareness, launches its first event on Tuesday, Dec. 19, with a toy drive benefiting needy children in South Philadelphia.

The event is an effort to give back to the neighborhood by raising both political awareness and the spirit of charity. The mission of Local Politics Matter (LPM Group) is to keep political awareness high among voters, especially for city-wide and municipal races.

The focus of this event, however, has the LPM Group directly addressing charity during the holidays. The Toy Drive, held at 1601 (located at 1601 S. 10th St.) will bring activists, politicians, elected officials, and citizens from all over the city. Everyone is asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy to the event, which will be distributed to children through a nearby church.

The group's directors are James Stanley Smith, a local businessman and a veteran of U.S. Congressman Robert Brady's district office and the Patrick Murphy for Congress campaign in Pennsylvania's 8th Congressional District, and Stephanie Odell, who was most recently the Pennsylvania campaign director for Young Democrats of America. The latest addition to the team is Crystal Martzall. Former Field Director for Mike Paston in Pennsylvania's 152nd State House District, Martzall was also a field organizer for the League of Conservation Voters during the 2004 Presidential election.

Normally, PAC activities and charity events don't get much play at KP but I'm posting this b/c of the concept and the people involved. It's a great model for progressive grassroots activity.