Why Quality Early Childhood Education is So Important—and How You Can Support It

early childhood education

Transform one young life, and you’ll transform a family. Transform one family and you also help transform a community.

The ripple of good that emanates from the investment in quality early childhood education for children in underserved communities implies that every dollar spent has the potential to generate great impact.

Every $1 spent on early childhood education is said to save society $7 in future remedial costs. That fact alone creates a compelling scenario for quality early childhood education programs for kids growing up in high-risk environments.

early childhood education

Add wraparound support for parents backed up by impressive statistics and this becomes a particularly compelling philanthropic investment. That’s why so many successful Chicagoans have supported Children’s Home & Aid‘s Child Care and Education Programs for the past 135 years and counting.

As an Illinois leader in Early Childhood Services, Children’s Home & Aid provides evidence-based practice services targeting high-need and high-risk populations, and a broad scope of programming incorporating child abuse prevention and family support.

early childhood education

Participation in Children’s Home & Aid’s programs has resulted in numerous outstanding results for children, including:

  • 96 percent are better prepared for kindergarten.
  • 93 percent have demonstrably better language skills.
  • 88 percent have improved gross motor skills and learning about movement.
  • 96 percent demonstrate improved social/emotional developmental functioning and learning about themselves and others.
  • 90 percent of these children have been immunized and received up-to-date physicals and health care.

Furthermore, parents are welcomed into parenting classes, including special programs just for fathers and numerous other Parent Support services.

early childhood education

Every child deserves a good education and to be raised in a loving, safe home. Children’s Home & Aid serves numerous Chicagoland communities, providing priority enrollment to children from high-risk environments, out of the following centers:

Approximately 98 percent of families served by Children’s Home & Aid earn below $25,000 per year, with over 30 percent earning less than $15,000 annually. Children’s Home & Aid programs include: Early Head Start, Head Start, Preschool For All, Child Care Assistance Program, and Child Care Resource & Referral.

early childhood education

Early Childhood Care and Education is only a portion of the many services Children’s Home & Aid provides to over 40,000 children and families each year in over 60 countries.

With a long history of making a little go a long way, Children’s Home & Aid is worthy of far greater support. That’s why this year’s annual Woman’s Board Gala, held Sept. 7 at the Union League Club of Chicago, has pulled out all the stops. Mitzi Freidheim will present Elizabeth H. Connelly of JPMorgan Chase with the 2018 Pauline K. Palmer Award at the 98th Annual Gala, co-chaired by Linda Campbell and Peg Corboy.

This year’s gala is sponsored by: Margaret and Philip Corboy, Jr.; Tim and Kathy Coleman; and Mr. and Mrs. David F. Myers, Jr.

The event is hosted by: JPMorgan Chase, ITW, DHR International, Mr. and Mrs. Gary Ahlquist, Mr. Paul Wood and the Honorable Corinne Wood, and Mr. and Mrs. Cyrus Freidheim Family.

Benefactors include: Mary Ellen Cagney and Lee Schoen, Mr. and Mrs. David Campbell, Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Darnall, Trudy Havens and Gary Neilson, Mary Ellen Hennessy, Koya Law LLC, O’Brien McMahon, Lockton, Cindy and Will Montgomery, Nick and Susan Noyes, Mr. and Mrs. Mark and Shawna Radzik, Gayle and David Spruance, Mr. and Mrs. James B. Stucker, Jim and Andrea Thome, and Alice and Herb Zarov.

early childhood education

The Gala promises to be a spectacular evening as well as an opportunity to ensure maximum impact for your philanthropic dollars. Make It Better is proud to be a media sponsor for this year’s event. Please join us for the wonderful evening and find out the many ways to get involved with Children’s Home & Aid and be a voice for all children!

 

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Susan B. Noyes is the Founder & Chief Visionary Officer of Make It Better Media Group, as well as the Founder of Make It Better Foundation’s Philanthropy Awards. A mother of six, former Sidley Austin labor lawyer and U.S. Congressional Aide, passionate philanthropist, and intuitive connector, she has served on boards for the Poetry Foundation, Harvard University Graduate School of Education Visiting Committee, American Red Cross, Lurie Children’s Hospital, Annenberg Challenge, Chicago Public Education Fund, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, New Trier High School District 203, and her beloved Kenilworth Union Church. But most of all, she enjoys writing and serving others by creating virtuous circles that amplify social impact.

 

 

 

 

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