Philly ABCs win silver Anthem Award!
We’re thrilled to announce that the Philly ABCs have been honored as a Silver Winner in the 4th Annual Anthem Awards!
The Anthem Awards celebrate purpose and mission-driven work worldwide. This year was the most competitive yet, with over 2,300 entries submitted from 34 countries. By amplifying the voices of those driving global change, the Anthem Awards set a new standard for impactful work, inspiring others to make a difference in their communities.
The Philly ABCs earned silver in the Community Space category for Education, Art, and Culture—a category that celebrates spaces designed to unite communities around shared interests or causes.
And that’s exactly what the Philly ABCs pop-up installations do: unite, inspire, and create meaningful change. Fences meant to divide were reimagined as living alphabets, featuring beautiful illustrations and playful learning prompts encouraging parents to explore letter names, shapes, and sounds with their children. This creative placemaking project transforms public spaces into joy-centered learning experiences for all to enjoy.
“We don’t always get to witness the immediate impact of our work when addressing complex, long-term challenges like the literacy crisis. But with the Philly ABCs, the results were instant. The moment the banners went up, playgrounds burst to life with kids belting out the ABC song, parents quizzing their little ones on letter sounds, and tiny hands eagerly tracing the colorful artwork."
Simone Partridge
Director of Communications
Read by 4th
This award is more than a recognition of the project—it’s a reflection of the lessons we’ve learned along the way, like:
Culture is motivation: The Philly ABCs resonate not only with children but parents and caregivers who may not have grown up seeing characters that look like them in educational materials. Also, never underestimate the impact of a healthy dose of Philly pride.
The staying power of the temporary: Vinyl banners are both inexpensive and easy to install, making them easy to swap out for a season. This helps avoid habituation and keep engagement high.
Lead with joy. Learning to read can be tough, but there’s always room for joy and laughter when teaching our children new skills.
The Philly ABCs were built for and by the community. We owe this success to so many, including the Reading Captains who guided us in choosing perfect locations, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation and the Philadelphia Zoo for embracing playful learning in their spaces, and PNC Grow Up Great for generously funding the project. Thank you to the Read by 4th movement partners and everyone who has championed and celebrated the Philly ABCs as much as we have.
Visit the Anthem Awards website to watch our acceptance speech, and click here to explore the full story behind the Philly ABCs.
Here’s to transforming spaces, sparking learning, and celebrating the city that inspires us every day!
