DELRAY BEACH, FL, June 16, 2017 - Delray Beach has again captured the title of All-America City (AAC) for the third time, and stands as the only Florida city to yield this accomplishment.  Delray Beach was among fifteen communities across the country honored at the AAC conference in Denver, Colorado for its civic engagement to help young children from low-income families achieve grade-level reading proficiency and early school success.
 
"It's such an honor to receive our third All America City award, the oldest (1894) and most prestigious civic award by the National Civic League," said Mayor Cary Glickstein.  "We are the only Florida city to have accomplished this. Working together, we have made meaningful and measurable progress in addressing one of our country's greatest challenges - improving reading proficiency among our youth."
 
To select the fifteen Award recipients, a panel of judges examined the progress reports from the 27 communities that were nominated as finalists. The 2017 AAC Award recipients are communities that: 
  • Demonstrated they have moved the needle on outcomes for children from low-income families in at least two of the following community solutions areas: school readiness, school attendance, summer learning and/or grade-level reading.
  • Addressed the National Civic League's key process criteria of civic engagement, cross-sector collaboration and inclusiveness.Created a plan for sustainability and for aligning, linking, stacking and bundling proven and the most promising programs, practices, and strategies.
  • Bonus points will be awarded for communities that have a plan for sustainability and for aligning, linking, stacking and bundling the most promising and proven programs, practices and strategies.

The All-America City Award is the country's original and most prestigious community recognition award. Since its inception, more than 500 communities of all sizes have earned this distinguished title.Community members, government, businesses and nonprofit organizations continue to work together to address critical local issues.