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Penn Emblem Celebrates 75 Years

The Philadelphia-area supplier marked the milestone anniversary with food trucks and a community giveback.

Trevose, PA-based Penn Emblem Company (asi/77120) is marking its 75th anniversary this year.

A fourth-generation, family-owned and operated- company, Penn Emblem got its start on Philadelphia’s North 15th Street in 1947. Company founder Frank Blumenthal began embroidering emblems out of his garage to serve the uniform rental market. He brought the first heat sealable emblems to the industry, according to the company website. In those early days, the company was known as the Penn Novelty Company and mainly provided oval emblems and U.S. flags.

Randi & Tyler

Penn Emblem President Randi Blumenthal-Joseph (right) and her son Tyler Joseph, digital marketing manager, attend a 75-year anniversary celebration of their fourth-generation family-owned and operated- company.

By 1970, Frank’s oldest son, Robert, took over, adding technologies to introduce a variety of new products from appliqué to barcoded ID labels. In 2010, Frank’s granddaughter Randi Blumenthal-Joseph took over as company president, and Penn Emblem became certified as a Women’s Business Enterprise. Today, Penn Emblem is a full-service provider of branded decoration and apparel, serving 13 markets out of four global locations.

Celebrating 75 years is significant and a testament to Penn Emblem’s loyal and committed employees, according to Blumenthal-Joseph.

“We have evolved as a company since 1947, transforming visions into reality,” she said. “Our continued mission as we enter the fourth generation is to always continue future expansion and growth, utilizing the same key elements and values that made us who we are today: service, quality and commitment.”

cookie tray

Penn Emblem marked its 75th year in business with an array of treats for employees.

Penn Emblem celebrated its anniversary the way any Philadelphia-area business would: with soft pretzels and other regional treats (like Tastykake snacks and Wawa drinks). The supplier also brought in local food trucks, held a big-ticket raffle and enjoyed donated sweets from Frankford Candy.

The supplier also donated items to the 100% donor-based nonprofit Philly Rescue Angels, which attended the celebration with eight adoptable puppies. Employees collected dog food, treats, toys and other items for the nonprofit for use in rescued dog foster homes. Penn Emblem raised more than $1,000 through a raffle to donate to Philly Rescue Angels. Philadelphia Youth Basketball, a community-built youth organization, was also on hand at the anniversary event.

Guests at the event went home with an assortment of treats and a specialty yearbook created by Penn Emblem’s marketing team commemorating 75 years of memories, giving back and employee loyalty.