GOOD N EWS
INS IDE !
Summertime … and for many of us, our thoughts turn to ice cream, lazy days at the beach, and family vacations. For those most in need in our community, however, summer presents its own unique challenges, ranging from the search for affordable childcare, to extra food costs and preventing “summer slide,” the loss of learning that children experience over the months spent outside of the classroom. One of the critical things about summer programming is the continuity of learning and the continuity of care, and the beauty of our programming here at Children First is that it has multiple benefits for our children and families. Kids need to be engaged in terms of their cognitive growth, and one reason that is so critical is because 90 percent of a child’s brain development happens while they are here with us during those first five years. This is not to say that families do not engage their children at home, but it is important to remember that our families are living with serious economic stressors that most of us couldn’t even imagine. By working together, our agency ensures that a high level of engagement is happening both in the classroom and at home. In addition to cognitive growth, kids also continue to grow in terms of their character development. We don’t want them to take a two-month break from having this important engagement with their teachers and other students that helps them to form their character and who they are.
It’s also important to remember that our parents are either working or going to school. Also, nearly 70 percent of our families are single heads of household. Life for these families is a far cry from the idyllic days of summer that many of us know. They are striving to better their circumstances. And one of the most significant hurdles for a young parent is not being able to find affordable, high quality childcare. What they are getting at Children First is not just early childhood education. It is early childhood education of the highest quality. Childcare is important, but early childhood education has a curriculum-based, individualized approach that addresses the very specific needs of each child, through our highly qualified teachers with degrees and years of experience. This will be my 27th summer of looking out my window and seeing our children have unbelievable summer fun. We have water days on Fridays, arts and crafts, a state-of-the-art playground …so summer here is a little more relaxed, and a little more camp-like, so that all our kids can continue to learn while making great memories. With your help, we had another wonderful summer, where our children were engaged, continue to grow, and had lots of fun along the way. Philip Tavill, CEO Children First
TO STRENGTHEN CHILDREN AND FAMILIES BY IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF THEIR LIVES THROUGH A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATION, HEALTH, AND WELL-BEING.
We are proud to announce our incredible slate of board leadership for 2023, and the addition of three new directors! At our agency’s annual reception, the Reverend Brock H. Leach was formally welcomed as Board Chair. Keith G. Johnson, VP at Truist Private Wealth, was welcomed as Vice Chair, Elizabeth Stamoulis, Esq., Partner at Williams Parker Attorneys at Law, was welcomed as Treasurer, and Lisa Giglio, former Director of Education at Sylvan Learning Center, was welcomed as Secretary. Jacqueline W. Ray, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus and former higher education administrator and psychologist, was thanked for her service throughout 2022 as she stepped into her new role as Chair Emeritus. Rev. Brock H. Leach is a former executive for PepsiCo, serving as CEO of its Frito-Lay North America and Tropicana Products divisions, and then as the corporation’s Chief Innovation Officer before attending seminary and becoming an ordained Unitarian Universalist minister. This is his second time taking the helm as Board Chair, having also served in this capacity in 2014. New directors joining the board for a threeyear term are Kenneth Hughes, former Children First Policy Council Liaison and Route Sales Representative for Frito-Lay, Rebecca M. Lieberher, Executive Director at JPMorgan Chase, and Robert L. Moulds, Vice President of Talent & Strategic Learning at PGT Innovations.
Other directors include Barbara G. Benson, Howard Berman, Andrea Johnson, Elenor Maxheim, Linda Monda, Joe Stephan, and Michael K. Suarez. The Children First Board of Directors is comprised of community members and leaders from the human services, corporate, investment, and philanthropic sectors of our region.
Kenneth Hughes
Rebecca M. Lieberher
Robert L. Moulds
A VIBRANT COMMUNITY THAT CHERISHES EDUCATION, PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TO GROW AND THRIVE, AND ENCOURAGES AND EMPOWERS FAMILIES IN SUPPORTING THEIR CHILDREN.
As children and families are disproportionately affected by the ongoing childcare crisis, Children First is continuing its forward progress of enhancing its comprehensive services for those most vulnerable in our community. In August of 2022, we officially launched a $600,000 matching gift challenge championed by the Changemaker Collective. The Changemaker Collective is an initiative for leaders who go above and beyond in serving our community and wish to make an investment in the tools children and families need to achieve their full potential. All collective support was matched 1:1 with an overall goal to raise $1.2MM. Together, we exceeded that goal and raised over $2.3MM! We are proud to announce that our Changemaker Collective is championing another $600,000 challenge match for 2023! The key philanthropists comprising the Collective include: Anonymous, Keith Monda & Veronica Brady, the Jean Delynn Foundation in
honor of Elenor Maxheim, Dawn & Mitchell Epstein, Lisa & John Giglio, Stephanie & Allen Hochfelder, Brock & Julie Leach, Joan & Dr. Bart Levenson, Elenor Maxheim, the Jerome & Mildred Paddock Foundation, Linda Rhault, Gaye & Jack Schwarz, Karen Solem, Joe & Nora Stephan, and the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation. It is critical that we continue to support our community’s most vulnerable as demand for services grows. The shared commitment from our Changemaker Collective members and all who joined this special challenge is an investment, not just in the futures of our children and families, but the future of our community and the world we live in. “So many of you supported our Changemaker Collective in 2022, and your continued generosity is building on this critical work of providing high-quality early care and education now, and for generations to come. Thank you for your commitment to strengthening children and families in need!” says CEO Philip Tavill.
We are proud to share that CEO Philip Tavill was honored by the National Head Start Association (NHSA) for his significant achievements in excellence in community service! The NHSA represents more than one million children, 275,000 staff, and 1,600 grant recipients in the United States. As the exclusive provider of Head Start and Early Head Start services for Sarasota County, Children First ranks in the top 1% of all programs nationwide. Mr. Tavill was first recognized by the Florida Head Start Association for his impact in elevating excellence across the state’s Head Start community. He received further recognition at the Southeastern U.S. regional level, representing more than 170,000 children, 40,000 staff and 300 member programs across eight states. After being honored by the state and regional associations, Mr. Tavill received the Sargent Shriver Excellence in Community Service Award during the NHSA annual conference on May 10. Sargent Shriver was an American diplomat, politician, and activist. As the driving force behind the creation of the Peace Corps, he founded the Job Corps, Head Start, VISTA, Upward Bound, and other programs as the architect of the 1960s War on Poverty. Shriver received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States’ highest civilian honor, from President Bill Clinton in 1994. “Philip joins a list of highly accomplished leaders making notable and significant contributions to improving the lives of children and families at the state, regional, and national levels,” says Reverend Brock H. Leach, Children First Board Chair. “Thank you for showing us what is possible when you care deeply, work tirelessly, and earn the enduring trust of people from all walks of life.”
Children First parent and Policy Council Liaison Maria Somera was recognized by the Florida Head Start Association for her demonstrated ability to serve as a role model for her children and for making a positive difference in our community. Representing nearly 43,000 children, 40,000 families, and 11,000 staff members across 134 programs, the FHSA works to create safe, healthy, nurturing learning environments for all children statewide with a focus on the early years in children’s lives, schools, and communities. Ms. Somera has served as Chair of Children First’s Policy Council for the 2020-21 and 2021-22 school years, making decisions that directly improved the lives of our children, families, and staff during the most challenging moments of the pandemic. She currently serves as Policy Council Liaison, working alongside the agency’s Board of Directors in leading governance efforts. “When you become aware of what others are doing for you, it makes you more engaged, not only in your own life but within your community. Because of Children First, I know that I am not alone and my future, and those of my family, are brighter than ever before,” says Ms. Somera.
September 28th, 2022 is a day our community will never forget. As we settle into another season of storms, we want to reflect on one of the most turbulent times in our state’s history when we were impacted by Category 5 Hurricane Ian. The recovery and restoration that occurred in the aftermath were made possible because of our incredible community who help guide our mission.
Restoration: As part of our phased re-opening plan, we were able to welcome back children and families at five of our Sarasota locations on Monday, October 17th. On Monday, October 24th we re-opened our Venice and North Port main campuses, with all campuses open and serving our children and families by the end of the month. Due to the level of devastation that occurred at Our Mother’s House, we continue servicing the children and families from OMH at our Venice campus, helping provide transportation and opening a new classroom.
Recovery: Our top priority was to ensure the health and well-being of our children, families, staff, and supporters, and we remained committed as an agency to meeting needs as they evolved.
As we worked tirelessly to achieve a “new normal,” our community of unity came together to help us realize our mission of strengthening children and families at their most vulnerable.
We began an active assessment of all campuses as soon as it was safe to do so. Clean-up at sites that were accessible poststorm started the next day. Our South County sites, however, were particularly impacted. Our North Port campus flooded; the kitchen collapsed at Our Mother’s House (OMH), one of our facility partner campuses; our Venice site’s electrical grid and gate were damaged, making the site inaccessible until they could be restored.
Our partners at Bealls made an incredible donation of $10,000 in gift cards for our families and staff who experienced loss during this devastating time. We also received the following grant funding for hurricane relief that provided direct aid to those we serve: $50,000 from Gulf Coast Community Foundation, $40,000 from Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, and $13,100 from Anonymous.
We conducted an individual-by-individual assessment of our staff and families to determine short, medium, and long-term needs to provide resources such as shelter, groceries, drinking water, clothing, and gas. Many of our families, staff, and supporters were heavily impacted, losing their homes, vehicles, possessions, and any semblance of life as they recognized it.
It was also during this time that we not only met, but exceeded, the Changemaker Collective challenge match that raised over $2.3 million. Thank you to the following supporters who came together to raise nearly $55,000 in hurricane relief: John Bean & Alexandra Jupin, C. Roberto Cordaro, Dawn & Mitchell Epstein, Louis & Gloria Flanzer Philanthropic Trust, Michael & Andrée Keebaugh, Brock & Julie Leach, Barbara Liberman, Nancy Masterson, Linda L. Monda, National Council of Jewish Women, Jacqueline & Lacy Ray, Wayne & Mindy Rollins, Gaye & Jack Schwarz, Cynthia & Thomas Stuhley, and Trinity United Methodist Women-Sarasota. In the immediate aftermath of this historic storm and beyond, your support allowed Children First to remain resilient among the recovery and restoration. Thank you for your generosity that empowers us to continue serving children and families at the highest possible level.
We had so much fun celebrating our hardworking parents and caregivers during our annual Galaxy Awards! Children First sites across the county recognized our children heading to Kindergarten in the fall with special end-ofyear celebrations. We wish our 82 graduates a happy, healthy, and confident start to their Kindergarten Year! Our long-time partnership with The Zenith allowed us to provide every child with a backpack full of educational books, games, and activities as well as supplies to start off the new school year in the fall. Thank you to The Zenith for making this special opportunity possible! We are thankful for our children, families, staff, community partners, and supporters who have helped us reach this momentous occasion. Congratulations K-Risers!
Every year, Children First holds a special event to honor our parents for their achievements in employment, education, family goals, building a home, and spending time on classroom activities with their child(ren). This year’s theme was Out of This World! because we couldn’t think of a better way to describe their outstanding achievements. With over 150 in attendance at the picturesque Stoneybrook Golf & Country Club, each parent received their own trophy and certificate while enjoying a delectable three-course meal. Attendees also heard from Children First alumni Carlos Yancy, a Business Development Specialist with BayFirst Bank in Newtown about his journey from Head Start, to the NFL, to now serving the members of the community in which he was raised. Thank you to our sponsors: Luminary Sponsor - Carlos & Vanessa Yancy The Future’s Bright Sponsors - DMSI; Legler, Murphy, & Battaglia, LLP; the New Sarasotan’s; and Philip Tavill Congratulations to our superstar parents!
We held our annual Staff Appreciation event at the Carlisle Inn on May 30th to celebrate a successful end to the school year and congratulate everyone on a job well done! “Alone we can do so little; together, we can do so much.” - Helen Keller We had a great time celebrating our volunteers at our Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast! Children First volunteers were recognized by our Board of Directors and Leadership Team for the mighty impact they make for our agency. In 2022, in-kind contributions and volunteer hours contributed approximately $340,000 in support of our mission. Across all of our sites, volunteers contributed a minimum of 17 hours per day across our multiple campuses. This event was held at our Dr. Elaine Marieb Early Learning Center, where attendees heard from classroom volunteer and past Board Chair Katherine Martucci on the value of giving back to such an incredible mission. Children from our Purple Crayon classroom provided a special performance of songs like Frère Jacques and Bingo. We also recognized our partners at PGT Innovations for their Brighter Futures named opportunity of our Butterflies infant classroom. Thank you to our amazing volunteers!
We had a wonderful time celebrating all our agency’s incredible achievements from the school year, and the many ways that each and every one of our staff continue to make our mission possible. Our Leadership Team opened the event with updates about the agency before proceeding with recognition for academic and professional achievements, committee and volunteer work, and anniversary milestones. Seven staff members were honored for 20 years of commitment to the Children First mission, representing a collective 140 years of service. All staff had the opportunity to participate in a special chance drawing, which included paid days off, and enjoyed a delicious breakfast buffet catered by Der Dutchman. Every single employee at Children First makes a difference in the lives of our community each day, and for that we can never say THANK YOU enough!
“Thy loving smile will surely hail the love-gift
And secondly, after receiving recognition at both
of a fairy tale.”
the state and regional levels, CEO Philip Tavill
On April 1, 2023, the magic of Lewis Carroll’s
was to be honored by the National Head Start
“Through the Looking Glass,” his sequel to “Alice
Association with the Sargent Shriver Excellence in
in Wonderland,” created a festive backdrop
Community Service Award.
for the 23rd Annual Fairytale Ball, hosted at Michael’s on East.
A video celebrated the accomplishments of Kenny Hughes, his wife Lisa, and their son Matthew,
In the words of Alice, “The only way to achieve the
who, Kenny said, “inspires me to be the best dad
impossible is to believe it is possible,” and much
I can be.” Kenny has taken on leadership roles
of the evening was spent thanking guests for their
at Children First with the Policy Council and the
many contributions that make the mission of
Board of Directors, and expressed his gratitude to
Children First possible every day.
everyone in the room. “Thank you for changing our lives, and for all the lives you continue to change,
As guests enjoyed dinner, their generosity came
now and for generations to come.”
shining through as auctioneer Michael Klauber led a record-setting live auction and paddle raise. The
After dinner, Philip thanked Kenny for sharing his
event netted more than $600,000 in funds raised.
story. “Family strengthening is the foundation and cornerstone of our work,” he said. “When you walk
During the first hour of the glamorous, sold-out
through the doors of Children First, our focus is
event, guests enjoyed a cocktail reception and
on helping the entire family, just like with Kenny,
placed their bids on items in an online silent
Lisa, and Matthew.”
auction. As they moved inside, they were treated to a performance by Cirque Vertigo, a talented
“You need to know behind the scenes what our
group of second-, sixth- and seventh- generation
families are dealing with,” he said. “It could be
circus performers.
a child with a disability, a family experiencing homelessness, a lack of transportation, food
Guests were welcomed by Vice President of
insecurity or an exposure to violence.
Philanthropy Jessica Rogers, who began by thanking event co-chairs Lisa and John Giglio,
“By going Through the Looking Glass tonight, we
Teresa and Trevor Harvey, and Janna and Josh Kim.
continue to show our families that no matter which
She then introduced Trevor Harvey, a Children First
direction their journey may take, hard work and a
alumni and former board chair.
strong system of support will always prevail.” Guests ended the festive evening with dancing to
The pair cited two special awards. First, Children First parent Maria Somera was honored by the Florida Head Start Association as Parent of the Year, one of the highest honors awarded to a parent within the Head Start Community.
the sounds of the Bay Kings Band.
Congratulations to the members of our Children First family for their incredible achievements!
Awards 2022 National Head Start Association Sargent Shriver Community Service Award, CEO Philip Tavill 2022 Region IV Head Start Association Billy J. McCain Community Service Award, CEO Philip Tavill 2022 Florida Head Start Association Sargent Shriver Community Service Award, CEO Philip Tavill 2022 Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences Nonprofit Leadership Alumni Award, CEO Philip Tavill 2022 Florida Head Start Association Parent of the Year, Maria Somera 2022 Women in Power Honorees, Katressa Wilson and Maria Somera (National Council of Jewish Women Sarasota-Manatee)
Credentials Master’s degree – Marie Basso-Thompson (Early Childhood Educational Leadership), Lori Davis (Master of Social Work), Christy Evans (Child & Adolescent Behavioral Health), Sara Wilson (Early Childhood Educational Leadership) Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education – Alesha Fahrenholz Associate degree in Early Childhood Education – Christina Medina, Ida Slusher Florida Director’s Credential Maria Bauer and Thea Trimble Registered Behavior Technician Certification – Darliny Lantigua Florida Child Care Professional Credential – Sherri Crouse, Brianna Reyna, Dalia Zamudio
Advocacy Kathleen Sullivan, VP of Programs, has been named to the National Head Start Association’s (NHSA) Region IV Board of Directors, overseeing Head Start’s Region IV, the southeastern United States, representing more than 170,000 children, 40,000 staff and 300 member programs. Olivia Harvey, Children First alumni, former parent, and Policy Council member, was invited to be a keynote speaker at the 2022 National Head Start Association Family Engagement Conference in Dallas, Texas and share her story of success.
Brigette Davis, Head Start/Early Head Start Associate Director, and Meredith Mitchell, Family Services Director, were accepted into and completed the UCLA Head Start Management Fellows Program through the Anderson School of Business.
Kathleen Sullivan
Agency Accolades 2022 Top Workplaces in SarasotaManatee (Energage)
Olivia Harvey
2022 Top Workplaces Sarasota-Manatee Leadership Award (Midsized Company), CEO Philip Tavill 2022 Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Frank G. Berlin, Sr. Small Business Awards Nonprofit of The Year 2022 SRQ Magazine Best of SRQ Local Awards Silver, Best Local Nonprofit Bronze, Best Community Accomplishment
Brigette Davis
2022 Tampa Bay Business Journal One Tampa Bay Nonprofit of the Year Honoree 2023 Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar.Org, now Candid, the World’s Largest Resource for Nonprofit Information, Helping to Inform Charitable Decisions 2023 Top Workplaces in SarasotaManatee (Energage) 2023 Top Workplaces USA Industry Award (Energage), Not-for-Profit
Meredith Mitchell
LaShawn’te Lee, a single mother of four, has faced many challenges in her life, but has never lost sight of her goals. Today, she is a Regional Coordinator at Children First, and is poised to take possession of her first home. LaShawn’te was born in Tuskegee, Ala., and grew up in a very small town just south of there, called Union Springs. LaShawn’te’s family all came from the area, dating back to her great grandmother, who was of Cherokee descent. For 20-some years, LaShawn’te’s mom worked in the local high school cafeteria and as a paraprofessional, working with special needs children. Her father was a police officer who also coached local high school football. Several years after graduating from high school in 2000, LaShawn’te was married, had a child and was living in Germany, though by 2007, the couple had returned to the States and had separated. From 2007 to 2017, LaShawn’te lived in Fayetteville, Georgia, where she held down two jobs, one of which was working for a local Head Start program. In 2010, she had her second child, a little girl. LaShawn’te tried to return to school, but as a single parent with two jobs, there was no time to pursue her own education. LaShawn’te earned her associate degree in 2014. And while that got her in the door to work in early childhood education, “it did not get me where I wanted to go.” In 2015, she had her third child, a son. LaShawn’te had vacationed in Florida as a child, visiting her great-grandmother who lived in Fort Walton Beach. “Every summer and spring break, Florida is where we would go,”
she said. “Right after our last visit to Florida, I became pregnant with my last (fourth) child. After having her in March of 2017, I had to go back to the hospital because my blood pressure would not stabilize. When she was about 8 weeks old, the doctor told me if I did not change my lifestyle, I was going to die,” LaShawn’te said. “With a diagnosis like that, I knew it was time to make that change.” She finally made the move to Florida in January of 2019. “I just felt Florida would be the right place to go to give me and my children a fresh start,” she said. LaShawn’te first learned about Children First while researching early childhood education online. Four years ago, she applied, and was hired as Regional Coordinator. Regional Coordinators handle many of the logistics of the day-to-day operations at Children First. For example, she makes sure that attendance is entered correctly, oversees the ordering of supplies, and works with parents in Children First’s after-care programs, services offered after regular school hours, from 2-5:30 p.m. “I like to tell the parents I work with, ‘I started out as a Head Start parent. What you are feeling now, I have felt. You will be OK, and it is going to get better.’ It gives us an immediate connection,” she said. “At Children First, there are so many services for the entire family. We are an early education organization, and the parents are also able to
better themselves through all the classes we offer. By working one-on-one with each family, we can address whatever problem they’re having – which creates a safer, more loving environment for the children to come home to,” says LaShawn’te. “If parents are willing to put in the time, Children First can help them resolve whatever issues they are facing. We teach our parents that when you get knocked down, the best thing they can do is get back up and get back to work. You have got to keep pushing,” she said. Today, she continues to push herself, and is in her senior year at State College of Florida. “Children First and State College of Florida have both changed my life for the better,” she said. Last May, she added four certifications to her existing associate degree. She will soon graduate with her Bachelor’s degree from SCF, and then pursue her Master’s degree online from the University of North Florida. After graduation, she plans to continue blazing the trail at Children First. She also has been working with the local Habitat for Humanity, helping to build her first home. All inspections were recently completed, and closing is just around the corner. “I am thrilled. For our family, it is such a big move toward legacy building, and leaving my family a legacy is very important to me,” she said. “Being a mommy is my superpower. Your children and their needs always come first. And while children need nurturing, they also need to be taught how to navigate their way through this complicated world. I tell my four children all the time, you make me better every day. And I will never do anything more important than being their mother.”
in the Sarasota community, the time we spend down here seems to be growing each year,” Amy said. Amy and Jim Chapman are the proud parents of three children and grandparents of seven – soon to be eight – grandchildren. But their love of children extends far beyond their own family. Jim graduated from the Miami University (Ohio) with a degree in finance and earned his master’s in finance at Xavier University in 1975. He is a founding partner of the investment banking broker/dealer firm of Meuse, Rinker & Chapman where he worked for more than 30 years. When the firm expanded into real estate, Amy was hired as a paralegal. “I had nothing to do with the hiring, as she was in the real estate division and I was on the financial side,” he said. The two began dating after attending a Miami University dinner. Six months later they were married and will celebrate their 38th wedding anniversary this October. In 2000, Jim helped to found Red Capital Group, which is a leading servicer of multifamily and assisted living loans. He retired from his position as Chairman in 2012. Jim had two sons from a previous marriage, Scott and Matt. The couple soon added a third child to their family, their daughter, Brynne. After their marriage, Amy became a stay-athome mom, though she was extremely active in the community in a variety of education and human-service organizations, including the Homeless Families Foundation and its Dowd Education Center, which provided STEM programming for children K-8. Its afterschool and summer programs provided education
and programs to enhance social skills, selfesteem and overall health of its students. Both Amy and Jim had a connection to the Gulf Coast of Florida, as Jim’s parents had first vacationed, and then retired and moved to Bradenton. Amy’s family had also vacationed and then moved to the Gulf Coast, on Longboat Key. “When we finally moved to Longboat Key, our neighbors included Frank and Katherine Martucci and John and Elenor Maxheim, who were all very involved with Children First. That’s how we first became aware of Children First, and started learning about its programming,” Amy said. After attending several Children First events, and hearing CEO Philip Tavill speak about the school’s mission and programs, “We were both quite impressed,” Jim said. “Children First is very well organized, well-run and financially sound,” Jim added. “In talking to Philip and Vice President of Philanthropy Jessica Rogers, they told us that one need the agency had was to build their endowment further, and to do that, they were looking for a leadership gift. Amy and I talked about it, prayed about it, and felt it was something that was right for us to do.” The couple has committed to a gift of $500,000 to enhance the Children First endowment. Jim and Amy currently spend six months of the year (October through April) in Sarasota, then return to their home in Powell, Ohio for the summer months. “As we get to know more and more people, and become more involved
“Every year we fly back to Ohio for the holidays, so that we can be with the children and grandchildren – and, of course, this year we want to be there for the birth of our eighth grandchild, due on Dec. 30,” Jim said. When they return in the fall, Amy is looking forward to getting more involved at Children First, and would like to volunteer in the classrooms, helping with the young students.“We are also hoping that our endowment gift will inspire other such gifts,” Jim said. Both agreed that there are many things to love about Children First. “I love all of the programs, and the fact that their programming
encompasses the entire family,” said Amy. “When I was volunteering at United School Networks in Ohio, I saw there was so much need. There, the schools have a laundry room so parents can do the laundry. There are computers so parents can get online and look for job openings. I just saw the importance of reaching out to the entire family, which is what Children First does so well,” she said. “Helping the children is wonderful, but if you really want to see them succeed, then you have to help the parents, too,” she said. “Sometimes for a single mother who is working and has four children, well, there are only so many hours in a day. It’s so wonderful to have a place where the children can feel secure and loved, and the parents can know that they are in a good place, a happy place. That’s when you know you are really making a difference in people’s lives.”
HEAD START