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Welcome to Fairfax Futures
Where Smart Businesses Invest in School Readiness
Greetings!
These days,
who isn't looking out for their investments? How are they doing today? Will they do well in the long term?
Companies are asking the same questions when it comes to investing in human capital. Will the workforce they need be there to meet the rigorous demands of global competition?
In our area, we're seeing leading businesses step up to the plate to support education and workforce development. In this issue, learn how two companies - Capital One, through its support for the School Readiness Leadership Forum, and PNC, sponsor of Grow Up Great - are supporting early childhood education as the platform for academic success and as key to future workforce readiness.
Learn about the U.S. Chamber's upcoming workforce and education summit and a new report that highlights proven opportunities for investing in young children. Also in this issue: fun activities
that employees can enjoy with their preschoolers while building their children's early math skills.
Enjoy the
read.
Sincerely,
Vera Steiner Blore
Executive Director
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Helping Them Grow Up Great
Giving children from birth to age five a
great start in life is the goal of PNC's
10-year, $100 million program Grow Up Great. The company takes school
readiness to a new level through grants, sponsorships, communications and
volunteerism across the country, including the Washington, DC metropolitan area.
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Is Three the New Six?
That's one question at Driving the Debate: Education and the American Workforce, a national summit sponsored by the
U.S. Chamber's Institute for a Competitive Workforce, Oct. 20 - 22 in Philadelphia.
Discussing pre-K policies that will impact the workforce will be Virginia's
Kathy Glazer, director, Office of Early Childhood Development, and Sara Watson, director, Partnership for America's
Economic Success. View the agenda and register online. |
Extra, Extra, Hear All About It
The Washington Area Women's Foundation launches a
multi-million dollar initiative to improve area pre-K programs at its 2008
Community Briefing, Oct. 15, 9:30 - 11 a.m. at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Washington, D.C. Speakers include PNC Bank's Craig
Pascal, senior vice president of community development, and Tobi
Printz-Platnick, program officer at the Morris and
Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, who will co-chair the Early Care and Education Collaborative. There is no cost
to attend, but registration is required.
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More Bang for the Buck
In the
past, public spending on children began at age 5 or 6, when they entered school.
Now, a majority of states are investing in pre-K education. A new report
examines shifting attitudes and identifies sound opportunities for public
investment in programs for young children. "Supporting Young Children and Families: An Investment that Pays," is available from Brookings.
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Hands-on Math Fun
Business leaders often sound the call for better math and science education. If you
missed The Washington Post article on math
education from pre-K to grade 2, here's the bottom line: whether it's counting crackers or sorting toys by shape and size, parents and early childhood educators can introduce early math concepts through play and other everyday activities. |
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Push for Pre-K Accelerates in Region Area business, education and government leaders gathered at Fairfax Futures' School Readiness Leadership Forum on Sept. 15 said they are supporting expansion of pre-K programs despite the slowing economy and
strained school budgets. 
"We are
investing in the workforce of the future," said Katherine Busser, Capital One executive vice
president.
 Charlene
Wheeless, vice president for communications at Raytheon IIS and Chair of Fairfax Futures, interviewed
David Kirp, author of "The Sandbox Investment," about preschool initiatives across the country.
Political leadership and business support are needed, according to Libby
Doggett, executive director of Pre-K Now, because overall,
the share of public dollars allocated to children has been shrinking, Capital
One, a Business Partner in Fairfax Futures' School Readiness Network hosted the forum at its McLean, Va., headquarters. Learn about other Fairfax Futures corporate sponsorship opportunities. |
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