Our Mission:
PCF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that supports Philadelphia public schools by installing internet-ready computers in classrooms and publicly accessible locations. We also help outfit school libraries with books, provide computers to low-income families that do not have them, and teach 3D printing and computer literacy classes.
Our mission is to help children of all ages find their passion, develop needed skills, and make positive career and life decisions for a successful future.
- Improving reading skills. 40% of Philadelphia students scored below proficient in reading & 22% of the city’s population is illiterate and 41% of Phila households do not have a computer.
- Decrease drop-out rates. 42% of students entering 9th grade in 2006 failed to graduate in 2010.
- And address youth unemployment. The unemployment rate is 22% for Philadelphia residents ages 20-24, and 76% of Philadelphia households are economically disadvantaged.
How P.C.F. Got Started/History
Founder John Bannan shown on the left along with other current and past Board members.
John Bannan formed the Philadelphia Children’s Foundation (PCF) in July of 2006. It was John’s involvement with sports and the mentoring relationships he had with his coaches that helped him become a successful Olympic Rowing Coach, business person, and leader of PCF.
John was motivated by three things: his passion to provide young people with the support they need to excel in life; the understanding that resources in the city are abundant, but do not connect fully with the community they aim to serve; and the educational inequality that many students in Philadelphia face.
In 2013, 4,500 students in grades K-12 in 20 area schools were touched by PCF’s programs. PCF started libraries in 12 elementary schools with over 16,500 donated books and provided more than 1,500 refurbished computers to low-income families.
PCF & Sponsors News:
Helping to Put Ex-Offenders to Work
PCF is proud to be working with PAR-Recycleworks whose mission is to responsibly recycle electronics and through this process, help pay for salaries and job skill development for formerly incarcerated men and women in order [...]
Computer Pickup at Health Partners Plans
PCF has been truly fortunate with the support we've received, and continue to receive, from Health Partners Plans. They have supported us financially with generous annual donations plus most of the 2,000 machines PCF has [...]
Financial Support from The Hibbert Group
PCF was thrilled to receive support from The Hibbert Group. We received a check for $250 from the company and a personal check for $250 from the CEO Timothy Moonan which will be used to [...]
Radnor Township Schools Book Donation
Ithan Elementary donated 19 boxes filled with children's books to be distributed to Philadelphia public schools. Earlier this summer, the district donated a trove of laptops and overhead projectors that were wiped and refurbished over the summer [...]
Chikara Donates 80 Event Tickets to Public Schools
CHIKARA has generously donated 80 tickets for PCF to distribute to 4 public schools in the Northwest. The event looks like a lot of fun and PCF has chosen Emlen, Houston, Jenks, and Henry schools to choose [...]
$1,000 Community Partner Grant from Wells Fargo
On Monday November 9, 2015, PCF received an unrestricted operating grant for $1,000 from Wells Fargo. The ceremony was held near King of Prussia and the photo above shows PCF's director Jan Deruiter accepting the [...]