The Philadelphia Activities Fund
This year in Philadelphia 444,000 children are in the ages 0-20 years old. 389,000 children are in the ages 0-17 years old. 159,000 children received AFDC. 236,000 children received Medicare. 11,800 children received SSI. 194,000 children received food stamps. 51,000 pregnant women and children received WIC. 197,000 children in public schools received school breakfast & lunch. 26,000 children received publicly supported early child care and education programs. 28,000 child abuse and neglect services (PCCY report 1996). The bottom line in the inner city of Philadelphia is children, youth and families who are in need of services.
Inner city youth that are economically disadvantaged continue to demonstrate lower scores on standardized achievement test and grade point averages. Motivation to continue with learning and to have great success begins to dwindle around the third or fourth grade. We challenge this at Peaks Little Angels, Inc.
In the neighborhood of Peaks Little Angels, it is clear that many youth from this area are at risk for school failure, violent crime, drug and alcohol problems and related crimes. In West and Southwest Philadelphia approximately 19-22% of 1st grade students do not meet minimum requirements for promotion to the second grade and 36% did not meet the requirements for promotion to the ninth grade. While about 22 schools offer a full day kindergarten, there is a need for more full day programs; especially quality school age childcare programs in the area in which we service.
We are developing our Music & Etiquette Program. We are striving to enable students, parents and interested residents to maximize their professional potential. Participants will develop skills necessary to:
A. Develop a hobby into a career.
B. Socialize & learn in diverse environments.
C. Be a part of a touring show.
D. Educational Games & Competitions.
E. Learn to appreciate environment, and a clean community.
