Child Educational Center Annual Report 2018-2019 - Public

Annual Report 2 0 18-1 9

2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT

“I want CEC love to spread.”

- WISH OF ESME (AGE 7), written on a Community Project leaf at the Pancake Breakfast Our children inspire in us a unifying principle for societal change.

One child’s wish, I want CEC love to spread, truly captures the heart and soul of the CEC. Her experience of the CEC results from everyone she touches in her family and our community.

It truly takes a village to raise a child, and the CEC has been a collective effort from its beginning in 1979. Along with staff, our families bring the spirit that results in the CEC being a loving and caring community that nurtures and supports everyone’s development and learning — from our youngest babies, to our school-age children, and all the adults who love and care for them. This spirit of community imbues all we do to ensure children’s health and well-being, creating the circumstances for them to thrive and for their unique potential to blossom.

Each and every person who generously contributes to the CEC community plays a role in creating the foundation for children to know themselves as loved and lovable. This emerging sense of self during these formative years has a profound ripple effect as children grow and blossom in the bigger world. Societal change starts in the family and in the community within which the family interacts.

You are an integral part of this effort. You are spreading CEC love and you are contributing to positive societal change. We are in this together, and we are incredibly grateful for your presence.

As we approach four decades of service to children and families, we find ourselves still a growing, vibrant educational community, touching even more families through our Children’s Programs and our Consulting and Professional Development services to the larger world. We are grateful for everything that has gone before and all the opportunities that lie ahead.

With gratitude,

Elyssa Nelson Executive Director

Katie Fallin Kenyon President, Board of Trustees, 2018-29

I absolutely love the physical space, the philosophy we espouse, and the families we get to work with…”

- CEC TEACHER

2017-2018 ANNUAL REPORT

YEAR in REVIEW Children’s Programs

With the CEC’s 40th Birthday arriving in 2019-2020, an outreach campaign launched this year to re-engage with 40 years of our alumni and alumni parents. In our Infant-Toddler and Preschool Programs, we were fortunate to enroll the children of seven CEC alumni, who themselves attended the CEC in the 1980s and 1990s.

It is truly wonderful and gratifying to see these parents, once youngsters who played and grew up in our outdoor classrooms, now witnessing the magic of the CEC through their own children’s eyes.

With more than 200 families enrolled across our five age groups, the CEC’s Infant-Toddler and Preschool Programs continued to thrive this year. Notable this year was the beginning of the Toddler (Appie-Zebra) yard renovation, that, when finished in late December 2019, will maximize the outdoor space and incorporate additional elements of a model outdoor classroom.

The Cooperative Preschool at Caltech (Co-op) offers postdoctoral, Caltech faculty, grad students, JPL employees, and community members community members a high-quality cooperative preschool model.

The Co-op program, located near the Caltech campus, serves more than 43 families in their morning program, and enjoyed full enrollment during the year.

The School-Age Program continued to demonstrate robust programming, with strong enrollment at all sites, a waitlist at all three La Canada Unified School District (LCUSD) schools for most of the school year, and a dynamic, child-centered curriculum. Highlights include visits from many alumni and teenage volunteers, including Girl Scouts, Eagle Scouts, La Canada High School TECH club students, and our own Zone

volunteer program. Children at each site spent time at Descanso Gardens throughout the year, participating in their educational programming. Part of our annual curriculum includes our beautification and gardening program, where children create fairy, herb, and vegetable gardens, with the harvested herbs and vegetables supplementing our snack and cooking projects. In addition, all three CEC/LCUSD sites received new paint and kitchens, as well as other furniture and equipment enhancements.

Research In collaboration with Nature Explore, the CEC completed a qualitative research study of Executive Function skills in infants and toddlers. The study has been submitted to an international journal for publication.

In addition, a national research study on natural outdoor classrooms conducted by the University of Wisconsin was published in the summer of 2019, and the preliminary findings were presented by the CEC at the World Forum on Early Care & Education. The research, which reinforced the value of natural outdoor classrooms for children and teachers, can be accessed on the CEC’s website under the ‘Research’ tab.

Consulting & Professional Development Our Consulting and Professional Development branches continued to further the CEC’s mission by offering Outdoor Classroom Project® (OCP) trainings throughout California, as well as consulting with childcare centers all across the state and country. The Annual Outdoor Classroom Project Conference in January 2019

focused on “Embracing Child-Initiated Learning in Natural Outdoor Classrooms” and was supported in part by grants and sponsorships from First 5 LA, the Christen C. and Ben H. Garrett Family Foundation, and Pacific Oaks College. Through the OCP’s Network of childcare centers, thousands more children benefit from the principles and practices of the natural outdoor classroom. In collaboration with Nature Explore, the 8th Annual Leadership Institute in Nebraska offered professional development and networking opportunities to more than 120 educators from throughout the country.

As you peruse this Annual Report, you will see first-hand how our community of children, parents, teachers, and extended family and friends help us all realize the wonder and magic of childhood. As you read the quotes from current and alumni parents, teachers, and others, we hope you feel the same sense of love, caring, and wonder that is present in all our programs, every day.

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2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT

Our

% 88 Tuition

financials REVENUES:

$7,628,000

% 4 Consulting & Professional

Total revenues were $8,637,000. At 88% of this year’s total revenue, tuition remains the

Development $365,000

CEC’s primary source of income, with enrollment revenue in all programs surpassing expectations. Consulting and Professional Development services contributed 4% of revenue, while seeking additional funding. The in-kind contributions from Caltech, JPL, and

% 3 Fundraising & Events

CEC parents contributed 2%. Fundraising and other income combined contributed 6%.

% 6 Child Care - Support % 13 Child Care -

$524,000

Expense $147,000

% 13 Administration $1,162,000

% 61 Child Care Salaries $5,239,000

02

Contributions $151,000

Educational Services $410,000

% 2 Fundraising

Facilities $1,127,000

% 2 In Kind

% 5 Consulting &

$265,000

% 3 Other Income

(incl. Contract Services) $228,000

EXPENSES:

Total expenses were $8,608,000. Childcare program salaries, at 61% of total expenses, continue to be the CEC’s largest expense due to high quality standards.

Facilities and program support costs comprise another 19% in expenses with several deferred maintenance and improvements made in the Toddler yard, all three LCUSD School-Age sites, and the staff lounge. Administrative costs were 13%, primarily due to competitive costs of medical insurance secured by Caltech and lower workers compensation insurance rates. This was partially offset by an additional $165K incurred by the CEC in lieu of the diminishing Caltech in-kind contribution to cover workers compensation. The Consulting and Professional Development services expenses and fundraising expenses comprised 5% and 2% of total expenses, respectively.

A complete set of financial statements, audited by Green Hasson & Janks LLP, is available upon written request.

C H I L D E D U C AT I O N A L C E N T E R

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2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT

LEADERSHIP

The CEC is honored to have engaged and thoughtful leaders – both staff and volunteer – who help ensure that families in our programs are engaged and thriving, community activities are successful, budgets are managed, and funds are raised. Our volunteers include leadership from the Board of Trustees and Parent Council; the Family Music Festival and Auction Committees who helped make our 2019 Annual Benefit our most successful ever; and the intrepid, enthusiastic fundraisers of the Fund Development Committee, who propelled the Infant-Toddler and Preschool Programs’ Annual Fund giving participation to 94% — a new CEC record.

Board of Trustees

Elyssa Nelson Eric Nelson Katie Fallin Kenyon, President Dianne Parker Elizabeth Gerber, Vice President, Christopher Pisano Advancement Melanie Sauer Daisy Ha, Vice President, Governance Adam Steltzner Laif Swanson, Secretary Laif Swanson Dianne Parker, Treasurer Kelsey Szamet †

Members

Ashaunta Anderson Megan Lorenz Angarita Robert Barry Lisa Cain-Chang Amy Fiore Elizabeth Gerber Daisy Ha Kira Johnson Lauren Kaye Katie Fallin Kenyon Ana Lee Michelle McGinnis Ray Morris

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Recording Secretary Julie Townsend

Board Committee Service Sheryl MacPhee, Advancement Kevin Harmon, Audit Val Cain Pearson, Audit Gihan Rizkana, Audit/Finance Seta Matossian, Finance Mike Mithani, Finance Helen Ruppel, Facilities/Governance/ Staff Relations Annie Wang, Governance Janet Sedhom, Succession Planning

Parent Participation CEC parents devoted more than

5,000 HOURS,

realizing our vision to enrich our community and fulfill our mission through the participation of each individual.

Management Team Lisa Cain-Chang, Children’s Programs Director Sheryl MacPhee, Director of Development and Communications Seta Matossian, Controller Mike Mithani, Business Manager Elyssa Nelson, Executive Director Eric Nelson, Director of Consulting and Professional Development Helen Ruppel, Director of Administration

Program Directors Lisa Cain-Chang, Children’s Programs Director Allegra Inganni, School-Age Director Erinn Levin, Infant-Toddler Director Talar Tchoboian, Assistant School-Age Director Ellen Veselack, Preschool Director

Parent Council The Parent Council conducts the activities of the Room Parents in addition to facilitating effective communication and cultivating meaningful, community-building experiences for CEC families.

Jen Packer, Co-Chair Nick Van Der Wende, Co-Chair Hosanna Aroyan-Heyer

David Bell Monalisa Chatterjee Valesca Cnossen Harry Figueroa Josh Fisher Aidan Flaherty Ozge Gencay-Ustun Mitch Ingham Bill Irion Courtney Kirkbride Amy Lieberman Sarah Lundeen Katie Lynch-Feige Marcella Marlowe Chaitali Parashare Lisa Thelen Nivedita Thiagarajan Joanna Truong-Cao

Fund Development Committee Vijay Natraj, Co-Chair Pauline Hwang, Co-Chair Razi Ahmed Mara Curtis Dana Grip Brenda Hernandez Kim Jacobsen Kricket Moles Edith Navasargian Hilary Petrizzo Grace Premvaree Vickie Scarffe-Barrett Dave and Ella Seal Katie Stack Morgan Katie Starros † Rachel Tanner Jinsu Wang Jen Wong Sizhen Yoshida

Members of the CEC staff are italicized. † Indicates a CEC alumni

C H I L D E D U C AT I O N A L C E N T E R

GIFTS of SERVICE Anniversaries of Staff Service TWENTY YEARS

FIVE YEARS

Sandra Esquibel Karena Nelson

Snow Babakhani Ashley Brehm Mona Ghanem Meagan Heidenrich Blanca Jimenez Christina Leef Lauren Lovoy-Granados Alisa McKinney Maria Zuniga

FIFTEEN YEARS Naomi Fox Sarah Palmiter

TEN YEARS Barbara Bone Theresa Embry Gabriela Zapien

This year, more than

70

generous staff members donated nearly

$10,000

At the August 2019 professional development day for all our staff, the CEC honored those individuals whose gifts of service enrich the lives of our children and families. Awards are given to members of our staff family who have reached milestone employment anniversaries. The CEC is grateful to its truly exceptional staff members who help ensure our mission of ‘fulfilling the promise of childhood.’

to the CEC’s Annual Fund.

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C H I L D E D U C AT I O N A L C E N T E R

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2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT

special funds Teacher Endowment Fund

David Goetz Memorial Fund

Investment interest from this Endowment Fund of $1,988 was used to support pay increases for CEC teachers.

Eva and Russell Goetz

Current Fund Balance: $59,201

First 5 LA The Christen C. & Ben H. Garrett Family Foundation Raw Inspiration

Tuition Assistance Endowment Fund Investment interest from this Endowment Fund of $4,065 was used to support tuition assistance for current families in all Children’s Programs.

Current Fund Balance: $110,415 The Rowena Yarak Schaber Scholarship Foundation

Tuition Assistance Fund Matt and Katie Feige Lauren and Stephen Kaye* Katie and Matt Kenyon Robert Lehner Arnold Rampersad Nichola and Kevin Walker Wang Law Corporation

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Grant Funding

Thank you for nurturing generations of children in the loving environment of the CEC.” - ELI Z ABETH K RIDER, ALUMNI PARENT

Matching Gifts We are grateful to the following companies for matching their employees’ charitable gifts to the Child Educational Center’s Annual Fund.

21st Century Fox Bank of America Cadence Design Systems, Inc. Google The James Irvine Foundation Sempra Energy Thomson Reuters Universal Music Group Wells Fargo Western Asset Management Company Charitable Foundation

IN 2018-2019 The CEC awarded more than

$151,800

IN TUITION ASSISTANCE to our families, supporting dozens of families and children in our community.

C H I L D E D U C AT I O N A L C E N T E R

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2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT

Annual Benefit Auction and

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Nearly 300 online auction bidders and hundreds of children and adults came together in May 2019 to help make our 30th Annual Benefit & Auction a big success! Under the guidance of Auction CoChairs Nichola Walker and Jen Jenkins and a dedicated committee, the extensive Online Auction set new records this year with more than 350 unique auction items that valued nearly $100,000, many of which inspired exciting competitive bidding wars. Auction highlights included an IVF treatment cycle donated by CARE Fertility, dozens of local popular restaurants, concerts and sporting tickets, and family weekend getaways, including San Diego, Palm Springs, a week in a Paris apartment, and more.

The Family Music Festival welcomed nearly 600 current and alumni families, staff, community members and generous sponsors to our third annual event. The Festival featured performers The Hollow Trees, Sing with Sylvie, Hap Palmer, and the Rhythm Child drum circle, who performed their music and delighted young and old. Yummy food from Sticky Rice and In ‘N Out and a variety of games, crafts, and activities combined to make the Festival a wonderful community event. Under the leadership of Festival Co-Chairs Elisha Mackey and Sarah Garrett and with a committed FMF team, the event also featured our annual Apple electronic raffle. Combined, the Auction and Festival raised significant funds, with nearly $80,000 raised for unrestricted funds that benefit all aspects of our Children’s Programs.

Special thanks to our hardworking and dedicated committee volunteers, parent volunteers, as well as all who supported our Annual Benefit with your sponsorships, auction donations and bidding, raffle ticket purchases, and attendance at the Festival!

C H I L D E D U C AT I O N A L C E N T E R

Sponsors $3,000

Cooperative PreSchool at Caltech Eagle Room

$2,000 Appie Room Bunny Room Dolphin Room Flying Squirrel Room Zebra Room

$1,500 The Christen C. & Ben H. Garrett Family Foundation Koala Room Panda Room Suzette Lawrence, D.A. Davidson & Co. Unicorn Room

$1,000 Caltech Employees Federal Credit Union The Kenyon Family Sea Lion Room

$500 Arthur J. Gallagher & Company Green Hasson Janks Daisy Ha and Sam Kim IT-TC, Inc. Jet Propulsion Laboratory La Canada Eye Care Optometry The Mackey Family The Moles Family Eric & Elyssa Nelson Melanie Sauer & Luther Beegle The Upton Family†

$250 Bacio Design + Marketing, Inc. Caltech Women’s Club Cantu Graphics

CEC Administrative Team The Kaye Family* Cris and Ray Morris The Pisano Family Vince’s Auto Service The Weiss Family

$100 Dinosaur Coffee The Ferraz Family Kira and Erik Johnson Dr. Romney Katti James O’Dea The Paller/Gordon Family

Family Music Festival Committee Sarah Garrett, Co-Chair Elisha Mackey, Co-Chair David Bekaert Donna Chung Katie Lynch-Feige

Aidan Flaherty Mitch Ingham Sarah Lebel Amy Lieberman Katya Migacheva Meghan Shea † Erin Shih

Auction Committee Jen Jenkins, Co-Chair Nichola Walker, Co-Chair Paula Antoshechkin, Input Chair Rachel Abercrombie Rachel Angones Caitlin Bogert-Upton † Morgan Des Groseillers † Brian Gunn Meagan Heirwegh Kerri Hendry Amy Higgins Young Kim Ari Padilla Basak Alper Ramaswamy Umaa Rebbapragada Rebekah and Gordon Siegfriedt Ian and April Trettel Stacy Weinstein-Weiss

Our gratitude and thanks to the Tewasart Family and Sticky Rice, Hap Palmer, Steven and Melinda Stogel, James Ashley and Romburg Milling for their generous contributions to the Family Music Festival and Online Auction.

* Indicates donors who contributed through United Way. CEC Staff are italicized. † Indicates CEC Alumni.

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Our

vision

We are so grateful that the CEC exists and our family is a part of it.�

- CEC PARENT

The Child Educational Center is a caring educational community where: Children are valued, thrive, and reach their full potential as individuals and contributing members of society.

The community and its members are enriched by the participation of each individual.

There is a commitment to the realization of similar ideals throughout the world.

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this Annual Report. If we have made an error or omission, please contact the Development Office so we may correct our records.

CHILD EDUCATIONAL CENTER Caltech/JPL Community 140 Foothill Boulevard La CaĂąada, California 9101 1 CEConline.org