By Paige McKay Kubik | Vice President, Development & Communication
When you take care of 2500 children under the age of 5 every day, there's no such thing as a "dull moment." This spring has been no exception. During April, our 17 centers celebrated the National Week of the Young Child with pajama parties, spring carnivals, and our annual Walk-a-Mile-for-a-Child. At all of our centers, children and their families walked, rode trikes, or enjoyed stroller rides, collecting quarters and dollars from friends, family, and community supporters who sponsored them. The money they raised will go towards needs-based child care tuition scholarships that allow parents to work and provide a stable home and the resources children need to succeed. The Walk-a-Mile-for-a-Child also meets two other objectives of our program. It brings families together for fun and fellowship, and it encourages parents and children to adopt healthy habits like good nutrition and exercise. We still have t-shirts available from the Walk-a-Mile, featuring the artwork of Taylor, one of our four-year-olds. If you’d like one, send us a message or visit your local Sheltering Arms. They’re only $10, and proceeds benefit the scholarship program.
The National Week of the Young Child is sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the organization through which Sheltering Arms centers are accredited. Sheltering Arms just received word that it will be recognized at NAEYC’s upcoming national convention as one of 10 exemplary programs in the “Engaging Diverse Families” initiative. The best practices Sheltering Arms has developed to make sure that all families are active partners in their child’s learning and development will now be shared with other early childhood programs across the nation.
Good news like this is only possible because of supporters like you. During the tough economic times of recent months, we have been there for families struggling to provide for their children because generous people who could give, did. Thank you so much, and come visit us some time. Our annual Operation StoryBook Read-a-Thon is coming up September 17…we’d love to have you join us for storytime!
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