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Dear Friends,

 

If you love our work then tell the world! You have an exciting opportunity to help us make even more of a difference in our community. GreatNonProfits, a site like Amazon Book Reviews or TripAdvisor, is conducting a campaign to identify the top-rated health nonprofits in the country.

 

Won't you help us participate in the campaign by posting a review of your experience with us? All reviews will be visible to potential donors and volunteers. It's easy and takes less than 3 minutes! Please click here  to start your review.

 

This link takes you directly to our page. Just be sure to choose "Health" from the drop-down list of campaigns when posting your review. Deadline is June 30th.

 

With your help, we can gain visibility in and for our community.

 

Thank you for your support!

 

Kathyrn Shea

President/CEO


Selby Foundation Propels Technology 

The William G. and Marie Selby Foundation has provided the agency with a $23,000 grant to advance public awareness and communications for the agency. The funding has enabled the purchase of new fundraising software, laptops, and a color copier.

 

Corporate Partner Fifth Third Bank Donates Scholarships 

A $5,000 donation for scholarships from our corporate partner, Fifth Third Bank, will provide assistance to unemployed or underemployed parents for early childhood education while they continue their search for employment or are at work during the day.  The scholarships will allow children to engage in preschool education activities and support school readiness assessments and developmental therapies as needed in a safe, nurturing environment.

 

Welcome New Board Member, Sarabeth Kalajian 

Sarabeth Kalajian, Director of Library Services for Sarasota County and a well-known advocate for children, has recently been elected to the Board of Directors. Ms. Kalajian has served on numerous state and local boards, including the Florida Library Association Executive Board and SCOPE Steering Committee. She has received many awards, such as the Girls, Inc. "She Knows Where She's Going" award, the Community Youth Development Adult Partner Award for the Students Taking Active Roles (STAR) Program, and the Sarasota County Government Superior Accomplishment Award.

 

Fed Chairman Discusses Value of Early Childhood Education 

In a recent speech, Chairman Ben Bernanke stated, "Research increasingly has shown the benefits of early childhood education and efforts to promote the lifelong acquisition of skills for both individuals and the economy as a whole...For instance, preschool programs for disadvantaged children have been shown to increase high school graduation rates. Because high school graduates have higher earnings, pay more taxes, and are less likely to use public health programs, investing in such programs can pay off even from the narrow perspective of state budgets; of course, the returns to the overall economy and to the individuals themselves are much greater." Read the whole speech. 

 

Healthy Families Programs Expanding into Charlotte County

The Ounce of Prevention Fund of Florida has awarded the contract for the Healthy Families Charlotte program to The Florida Center effective July 1.  The Florida Center is already the lead agency for the Sarasota and DeSoto/Hardee programs.  Healthy Families is a home visiting program designed to prevent child abuse and neglect in families with risk factors associated with child maltreatment.  The program will continue to operate out of Charlotte County, providing services to over 150 families in fiscal year 2011-12. 

 

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The Florida Center for Early Childhood provides prevention and early intervention services to young children and their families at risk for academic, social, and economic failure. Because of this, our young children achieve developmentally appropriate milestones and parents have the support and knowledge to nurture their children's development, thus decreasing risk factors related to child abuse and neglect, educational delay, and behavioral and mental health disorders that add to increased costs to society.