TTN PHILADELPHIA GIVING CIRCLE

 MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

October, 2023

 Dear TTN Giving Circle community,

When my first child was born, our family purchased a second-hand rocking chair.   I smoothed out the rough edges, spruced it up, painted it white, and added pillows to soften it. I knew immediately this would be my favorite seat in the house, since it would be where I would make the nightly ritual of reading a bedtime story to my son, which we did together for years.  By age 5, he was sitting in our home rocker and reading stories to me. 

 Not all children have a rocking chair. In fact, today many children in Philadelphia don’t have strong family support and the opportunity to attend preschool classes (limited to those who can afford it) is challenging. Adding to this challenge, as many as 2,848 Pennsylvania pre-schools are expected to close when the federal stabilization funds provided during Covid expire at the end of September. (Day care owners are fighting for survival as federal funding runs out this month, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Sept. 26, 2023.) Families in low median income areas in Philadelphia will be hardest hit by this loss of funds. As more parents rely upon informal childcare givers — family, friends, or elderly neighbors — the preparation youngsters need to be ready for kindergarten is ever more at risk. As one educator said, “By the time these kids [those without pre-school] hit kindergarten, they’re already behind.”

 But not all is bad news. I recently read an uplifting article about a not-for-profit group providing a mobile pre-school. The pre-school is in a bus, which comes to West Philadelphia neighborhoods and parks in church and community center parking lots and similar places. The El Busesito, (“little bus” as it is called), is retrofitted to hold desks and chairs, and shelves with books. Children attend for up to two and half hours a day and learn their letters, colors, shapes, and other basic pre-K skills. The El Busesito mission is to bring kindergarten preparedness to underserved communities.

Our Philadelphia children need people who can open the magical door of reading; our children need teachers, books, and safe spaces in which to read those books. Recognizing the importance of early childhood literacy, and the great school preparedness deficiency in Philadelphia, you -- our Giving Circle community -- voted for Improving Childhood Literacy as our giving theme for 2024. As I think about the literacy challenges for the youngest among us, I am honored to be part of this work.

As part of our 2024 mission, our Giving Circle also is partnering with the TTN Volunteer Committee Annual Book Drive. We hope that you can attend our annual meeting on November 9th, which we are calling “Gathering for Giving” and, if you are able, bring a new children’s book to donate. And, if you are not already a Giving Circle donor, please consider donating and being a part of our goal for 2024 to identify and support nonprofits with the primary mission of improving literacy among. Philadelphia's children. If you have not yet renewed your Giving Circle donation for this year, please do so now. Help us help those who fill the shelves of those who need . . . to read.

On behalf of my co-chair, Kris Lindenmeyer, and myself and the Giving Circle Executive Council, thank you for opening your hearts wide and donating generously to our mission. To contribute . . . click here..

With appreciation,

Phyllis Bookspan, Co-Chair

Kris is traveling someplace wonderful and sends her wishes. We look forward to her letter next month.

As Phyllis mentioned above, here is more information about our current fundraising campaign . . .

Studies on children’s literacy show that students reap lifelong benefits if they reach reading proficiency by the fourth grade. The Annie E. Casey Foundation reports, for example, that students who do not meet this milestone are four times less likely to graduate high school on time than those that do. Thus, the Giving Circle’s solicitation of grant proposals from local nonprofit organizations will focus on Children’s Literacy, Pre-K to 4th Grade.

Last year was the "Year of the Child" and we raised a record amount to support our annual grants, but our work is not done. And, as mentioned above, monies raised in 2023 will support our 2024 grantees i.e. nonprofits helping children in Philadelphia to gain the reading skills they will need to succeed in life.

Your donations to the Giving Circle make the difference. And the more you give, the more we can put towards the funding of worthy literacy programs in Philadelphia, so please give generously. We welcome contributions to support this campaign anytime before the December 31st deadline. Click above to make a donation today if you have not already done so. Thank you!

Please join us for our annual Gather for Giving Evening to be held on the 48th floor at Ballard Spahr headquarters (1735 Market Street). Come mingle with your fellow Giving Circle contributors while taking in the gorgeous views of the Philadelphia skyline and enjoying wine and appetizers. We’ll learn about new developments with the Giving Circle and you’ll have a chance to meet the new co-chairs, Phyllis Bookspan and Kriste Lindenmeyer. Also, two of the current grantees, Raymond John from 12 Plus and Jim and Pat Hardy from Kensington Soccer Club will give brief updates about their organizations and answer any questions you have. Finally, Carol Williams will talk about the focus of our current fundraising campaign and encourage all to join the Grants Committee. We hope you’ll join us!

Registration will open shortly. For now, please save the date.