Community Impact

AT A GLANCE: COMMUNITY CENTER IMPACT

S.T.E.A.M. Summer Program Makes a Big Impact

St. Philip’s School and Community Center’s i3 S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, ARTS, and Math) focused summer program offered a synergistic approach to integrating the arts with academics. This past summer, it proved to be a beautiful extension of our school, with many of our faculty leading the academic instruction in the seven-week, full-day program. We strive to provide a St. Philip’s School “experience” to our summer scholars,

given 90% do not attend the school.

The summer program is an effective way to keep children safe and engaged during the vulnerable summer months, and prepared for the coming school year. Collaboration continues to be a hallmark of the program with the continued involvement of AmeriCorp, Big Thought, Brighter Bites,

First Tee, Honey Shine, Inc., North Texas Food Bank,

Soul Rep Theatre Company, and The Mourning Family Foundation. These partners helped staff, instruct, fund, and feed our summer scholars.

We inspired, ignited, innovated, and achieved the following through our 2017 i3 S.T.E.A.M. summer program:

• Helped 135 children beat summer learning loss

• Provided 84 hours of arts enrichment

• Provided 140 hours of academic instruction

• Provided 48 hours of athletic enrichment

• Provided 35 hours of field trips and academic excursions

• Provided 35 nutritious meals to each

summer scholar

• Provided 10 pounds a week of fresh produce to each summer scholar’s household during the 8-week summer session Many thanks to the following major donors for making our 2017 campers' SUMMER DREAMS come true!

Kathleen and Gary Bedard Big Thought Jene A. Buckner Barbara and Larry Cavitt Lisa and Clay Cooley Felice and Crocker Kathy Crow Davies Ward Phillips &

Vineberg LLP Richard D. Eberhart Patti and James Elliott Fredye and Dennis Factor Faherty Property Bo Feagin Shaun Gill Liz and Tom Halsey Steve Holmes Honey Shine, Inc. Kathryn and Don Houseman Rob Landin Mickey and Bill Lively Sally P. Lutz Juliette and Mark Moussa Andrea Petro Kimberly Phillips Nancy G. Riddle Maureen and Robert D. Royer Jack Rustamier Frank Scardino Dotti and Anupam Singhal Bill Sladek The Hoak Foundation The Mourning Family

Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Gerard Thomas Vinson & Elkins, LLP Walker & Dunlop, LLC Marilyn M. White Sharon and Michael Young

Beautiful Beginnings at St. Philip’s

Did you know St. Philip’s School developed from a daycare center established in the 1970s? Until a few years ago, it has been decades since a daycare was located on the campus. St. Philip’s has returned to its roots with the presence of Beautiful Beginners Christian Academy. This curriculumbased program for infants through two-year-olds, is owned and operated by Olatilewa Kerr, affectionately called “Tili” by parents and little ones.

St. Philip’s campus is the second site for the daycare. Mrs. Kerr has another, larger location in DeSoto that provides care for children up to four years old. “For me, every child is beautiful, exquisite, and unique,” Kerr shares. “Every child is beautiful in my sight and in the eyes of God.” She also believes all children deserve the best care when they are away from their parents. “I have an amazing staff of selfless, dependable, and God-fearing care givers.”

Beautiful Beginners clients include a great blend of families who live and/or work in the South Dallas/Fair Park community. A few of St. Philip’s faculty even have children in the daycare. Kerr is proud to point out that this is first her ministry, before it is her job. In fact, 50% of the families she serves at both locations do not pay or pay little. She believes Beautiful Beginners is filling a critical need because in daycare, she often hears the first words, sees the first steps and first tooth. “We become the doctor, the therapist, and the nurturer of the children we care for,” Kerr explains. “We have to be there for the family and the child.”

Thirty-eight of our summer scholars received a BONUS summer experience as participants in a week long away camp through Christianbased Kids Across America (KAA). The

trip was made possible through a generous contribution from Selby Harrison. Campers enjoyed water tubing, cheer, dance, aquatic activities, zip lining, basketball, bible study, and many other leadership building activities.