Resolution 200720

..Title Celebrating the 50th Birthday of PBS. ..Body WHEREAS, PBS, short for Public Broadcasting Service, is an American television broadcast and program distributor. The main goal of PBS is to provide a free non-commercial television service that prioritizes educating and inspiring the public; and WHEREAS, PBS has more than 330 member stations serving all 50 states, Puerto Rico, Guam and American Samoa, and reaches over 120 million people through television and 26 million people online; and WHEREAS, PBS has brought its viewers a multitude of timeless and notable programming, including children's programming such as Arthur, Barney & Friends, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Sesame Street and Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, and adult programming such as America's Test Kitchen, Antiques Roadshow, Downton Abbey, Masterpiece Theater, and This Old House; and WHEREAS, PBS has had a remarkable impact on the lives of children and their early and continuing education. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12th grade use PBS' digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life; and WHEREAS, PBS is funded from donations by individual citizens, private foundations and pledge drives, as well as funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and member station dues; and WHEREAS, PBS celebrated its 50th Anniversary on October 4, 2020, amidst the pandemic and other critical issues facing our country. The organization didn't skip a beat, quickly moving almost their entire operation to telework and working to create new content to reflect the unprecedented times facing the country; and WHEREAS, PBS plans to celebrate its 50th Anniversary with the debut of American Portrait. This new series will feature user-generated content that highlights the journey of the multiple crises that Americans faced in 2020, including the pandemic and national civil unrest brought about by the murder of George Floyd; and WHEREAS, PBS has been a staple in American homes for five decades and has shown their continued commitment to educating and enlightening the public; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby celebrates the 50th Birthday of PBS. ..End