This Thanksgiving holiday we give thanks for the real changes to make the lives of children better in Pennsylvania.

1.  School funding was THE defining issue in the race for Governor, and the schools won.    Click here to learn more about the new Campaign for Fair Education Funding that PCCY helped to launch, and let us know if you want to get involved. Contact shaneeg@childrenfirstpa.org.

2. The Philadelphia School District has $200 million more in recurring local funding made possible through the extension of the one percent city sales tax and a $2 per pack tax increase on cigarettes sold in the City.  PCCY thanks the parents, students, teachers and principals who responded to our call to get involved and made this happen.

3. Thanks to our hard work, the Pennsylvania Insurance Department opened their eyes and directed eye care providers to give children free replacement eye glasses if theirs are lost or broken.

4. Colleen McCauley, PCCY’s Health Policy Director, is a finalist for the Health Hero Award from Be Well Philly.  Show her your thanks by taking 5 seconds to vote for her to win this important recognition.  Click here to cast your vote. Colleen has led PCCY’s charge to help more than 35,000 children in Pennsylvania access better health care because of the Affordable Care Act’s requirement that gives children the full benefits of the Medical Assistance program.

5. The Pre-K for PA Campaign hit its first year goal of mobilizing 10,000 supporters and 500 endorsing organizations.  To pass Pre-K for every three and four year old child we need to double our ranks.  Please ask everyone at your Thanksgiving table to sign up and support the Pre-K for PA Campaign.

6. The State and Federal Government enacted legislation to give children a good start in school.  The state added $10 million to the budget for Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts, which enrolls at-risk children in pre- k.  Congress reauthorized the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) to protect children from unhealthy and unsafe child care settings.  Pennsylvania families benefit from more than $400 million in subsidies available under this federal program.

7. Eagles Cornerback Brandon Boykin is a literacy icon for the READ! By 4th Campaign.  He is the a hero on and off the field by sharing tips with parents to help improve the number of children entering 4th grade reading on grade level.

8. More children in Pennsylvania are starting the day right by eating breakfast at school.  PCCY helped drive up school breakfast participation by 26% by leading the Pennsylvania School Breakfast Challenge.

9. More than 3,500 Philadelphia school students had hands-on arts instruction this past year through PCCY’s Picasso Project. 

10. We are thankful for YOU!  Your support of PCCY keeps the wheels of progress turning so we can continue our work as the region’s leading voice for children.  Plan now to join us on April 29th, 2015 for a night of fun to mark the great work we do together.  Show your Thanksgiving guests this 30 second clip and help make the Celebration of the 2015 Public Citizen for Children and Youth a great success.
Have a happy Thanksgiving and we wish you and your family

the most joyous holiday season.