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Recognizing February 4, 2015, as National Girls and Women In Sports Day in Philadelphia to celebrate the 43rd Anniversary of Title IX - the federal civil rights law that prohibits sex discrimination in education, but is best known for breaking down barriers in sports for girls and women.
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WHEREAS, On June 23, 1972, the United States Congress enacted Title IX of the Educational Amendments to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which states in part that, No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity receiving federal financial assistance; and
WHEREAS, Title IX has been applied to break down barriers in sports for girls and women; and
WHEREAS, Since the enactment of Title IX, there has been an explosion of athletic opportunities for girls and women of all ages and levels of ability, with the percentage of girls participating in high school sports and athletics going from nearly 4 percent to over 33 percent, and the number of women's sports offered per college going from just over 2 to over 8; as well as the fact that the United States sent more female athletes than male athletes to the 2012 London Olympics; and
WHEREAS, Debbie Yow, Athletic Director of North Carolina State University, has observed that, Title IX was the second-most important piece of civil rights legislation passed in this country, and Had it not passed, the options and opportunities for women in this country would be vastly different; and
WHEREAS, 2015 is the 29th Anniversary of National Girls and Women in Sports Day, which honors and highlights the achievements of girls and women in athletics nationwide; and
WHEREAS, On February 2, 2015, as one of over 1,000 events in all 50 states, Temple University's Athletics Department sponsored its 3rd annual celebration of National Girls and Women in Sports Day, under the leadership of Kelli Sheesley, Assistant Athletic Director/Creative Services and Kelly Driscoll, Associate Head Field Hockey Coach, with sports clinics, with dancing, and with keynote speaker Temple Athletics Hall of Fame Member Edna Brown-Hecht addressing the crowd about her impressive sports career and the importance of leading active lives; and
WHEREAS, The City of Philadelphia, appreciates the importance of girls and women playing sports and leading physically active lives, and encourages all to strive to overcome the remaining hurdles to girls' and women's participation in sports; and
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby recognizes February 4, 2015, as National Girls and Women In Sports Day in Philadelphia to celebrate the 43rd Anniversary of Title IX - the federal civil rights law that prohibits sex discrimination in education, but is best known for breaking down barriers in sports for girls and women; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Temple University's Athletics Department, especially Kelli Sheesley, Assistant Athletic Director/Creative Services and Kelly Driscoll, Associate Head Field Hockey Coach, further evidencing the sincere admiration and respect of this legislative body.
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