By Rachel Riley

The Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board partnered with a Montgomery County native on a #MontCoStrong video meant to inspire Montgomery County residents, businesses, and other partners in the tourism and hospitality industry.

With the intent and purpose to give people hope during the challenging COVID-19 public health crisis, the video uses imagery of empty parking lots, streets, and closed signs all across the county combined with messages of strength that together, the community can accomplish anything.

“Although we have to pause travel now,” one line in the script says, “nothing will ever stop the powerful way travel changes us…We will rise again…We’ll stay, and play, and thrive again…because we’re #MontCoStrong.”

The nonprofit organization worked with Ed Seiders and 20/20 Visual Media on the project. Director of Business Development for 20/20, Seiders grew up in Lansdale, attended Lansdale Catholic High School, and studied at Temple University’s Ambler Campus. He wanted to give back to the community where he was born and raised by producing a piece that highlighted Montco’s unique places that many are eager to experience again.

“It was important to me and the team at 20/20 to reach out to our clients and see what they needed during this challenging time, and provide whatever assistance we could,” said Seiders.

“Whether it’s our healthcare, education, non-profit, tourism or consumer brand clients, everyone is hurting in some way or another and we’ve found that there are so many opportunities to listen and give back.”

With family across Montgomery County, Seiders holds the area in a special place in his heart because he enjoys taking his son to various Montco attractions like Elmwood Park Zoo in Norristown, LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Plymouth Meeting, and iFly in King of Prussia.

The father and son also run the annual Valley Forge Revolutionary 5-Mile Run at Valley Forge National Historical Park, which had to be canceled this year due to the coronavirus.

“Montco to me is the definition of business and hospitality,” Seiders said. “There’s so much to do, and so many wonderful offerings that are great for whatever your interests are. We worked with the  VFTCB to come up with a way that shows despite the hardships we are all going through right now, we will come back and we will be OK because we are #MontcoStrong.”

The video debut comes on the heels of the VFTCB’s #MontCoStrong t-shirt fundraiser launched last week with DJB Specialties of North Wales to help support the MontcoPA COVID-19 Response Fund.

To order a shirt, please visit https://www.valleyforge.org/montco-strong-t-shirts/, or https://www.djbspecialties.com/showrooms.htm.

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Rachel Riley, Director of Communications at Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board, can be reached via email at riley@valleyforge.org.