Resolution 120859

..Title Recognizing the West Philadelphia Alliance for Children (WePAC) for their steadfast dedication to Philadelphia's Public Schools as they initiate literacy programs and open school libraries. ..Body WHEREAS, The West Philadelphia Alliance for Children (WePAC) is a Philadelphia based non-profit organization that provides literacy programs to young students and opens libraries in schools; and WHEREAS, While a child's reading ability at the end of third grade is a key predictor of school dropout, more than 80% of Philadelphia's public schools lack a functioning library; and WHEREAS, Year after year, surveys show that for many students, the school library is the only library they visit and principals report that many children do not have anyone reading to them at home; and WHEREAS, Since 2009, WePAC has opened 16 previously closed elementary school libraries and currently runs 12 libraries in West and Southwest Philadelphia, providing services to more than 5,000 students; and WHERAS, WePAC has donated thousands of books to schools and currently, more than 2,500 books are circulated each month; and WHEREAS, Dedicated volunteers read stories with children, help them select and check-out books and make reading come alive; and WHEREAS, WePAC's literacy mentors work with individuals and small groups in the classroom so that students can enhance their writing skills; and WHEREAS, WePAC is the only non-profit organization in the City of Philadelphia that systematically works to open closed school libraries; and WHEREAS, WePAC is funded entirely with private dollars and provides all of its services at no cost to schools or the School District of Philadelphia; now therefore, be it, RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Recognizes the West Philadelphia Alliance for Children (WePAC) for their steadfast dedication to Philadelphia's Public Schools as they initiate literacy programs and open school libraries. ..End