Recognizing the Month of October as the First Annual Scrabble City Month and Honoring the Game of Scrabble as an Important Aid To Literacy.

WHEREAS, The City of Philadelphia has a long history of playing the game of Scrabble, dating back to the 1940's when the game was first introduced to the market; and

WHEREAS, Scrabble is a game that is intergenerational, and that can be an enjoyable learning experience for those of all ages; and

WHEREAS, Philadelphia is the first municipality to stage a citywide Scrabble event; and

WHEREAS, Board games have been shown by research to expand strategic thinking skills; and

WHEREAS, After School Activities Partnerships (ASAP) and the Free Library of Philadelphia seek to showcase Philadelphia as a literate city and encourage more people to lead and join Scrabble clubs for children; and

WHEREAS, All fifty-four branches of the Free Library of Philadelphia will welcome those people, ages nine to ninety, to play the game of Scrabble for fun and challenge during the month of October; and

WHEREAS, Those who play competitively will move on to the Regional libraries, with championships taking place at the Central branch in the month of November; now therefore

RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Does hereby recognize and honor all those working to highlight and increase the literacy of our citizens in this endeavor. We declare the month of October the First Annual Scrabble City Month and encourage all in the region to play the game of Scrabble and be justly proud of our literacy.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to the Free Library of Philadelphia, Philadelphia Scrabble and After School Activities Partnership as sincere sentiments of this legislative body.

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