February Message from Deb
Celebrating 40 Years at PIC
It is with both pride and excitement that I announce the launch of our 40th anniversary celebration.
40 years ago PIC was launched as a child care program to serve children and families living and/or working in the West Philadelphia community. While in those forty years we have significantly grown, so many of the foundational roots of PIC have remained the same. I have enjoyed the wonderful experience of going through the PIC archives to read and learn more of our history.
PIC has always set the bar for high quality throughout the city and well beyond. In 1998, we were one of the first programs in the state to achieve accreditation through the National Association for the Education of Young Children and at the inception of the Keystone STARS quality initiative program, PIC was once again one of the first programs to be designated at a STAR 4 (the highest) level. Today, we continue to hold both of these credentials of high quality.
Over twenty years ago, PIC began enrolling families who qualified for the CCIS state subsidy that assists with the cost of child care. Ten years ago, we became one of the first programs in the city to partner with the School District to offer the PreK Counts program. A committee of parents started our in-house tuition assistance fund in the 1980’s that is supported in part by our annual ArtStart fundraiser. Today, all of these programs are important to PIC and have allowed us to continue to increase the socio-economic diversity that we believe is so integral in our values.
Forty years ago, it was very much a strong aspect of PIC’s identity to work on the professionalism of the workforce. Early on, a fund was established to assist teachers with the cost of pursuing their education and years later, PIC was an early signer of the T.E.A.C.H. program that supported teachers with the cost of college courses and well as awarded salary increases each year of successful movement toward the completion of degrees.
These are just a few ways that our foundational values have guided us through four decades of growth. We look forward to sharing more of our past through stories from people who remember PIC over the years. And we look forward to celebrating our 40th anniversary at several upcoming events and will keep everyone informed as details are confirmed.
40 years is quite an accomplishment. We look forward to celebrating with you all!
Thank you for entrusting your children in our care.