GSC-W raises over $150,000 for local early learning scholarships

Vulnerable kids will get a second crucial year of quality child care and preschool

SOUTHGATE, MICH. – The Great Start Collaborative of Wayne County announced today that it has raised $159,164 in private and public donations to help many low-income families afford quality child care and preschool for their 3-year-old sons and daughters.

The highest-need 4-year-olds in Michigan are often enrolled in the state’s preschool program, called Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP), or the federally-funded Head Start preschool program.  However, research shows that two years of a high quality early learning experience often result in greater outcomes and school readiness for children with greatest risks.

In July, the Early Childhood Investment Corporation, which operates 54 Great Start Collaboratives statewide, awarded 29 collaboratives a total of $2.7 million in grants to establish a local Great Start fund in their community. The Great Start Collaborative – Wayne was awarded $150,000.

The collaboratives were then challenged to raise an equal amount from public and private donors and use the money on scholarships for low-income 3-year-olds.

“Successfully matching and exceeding our goal was only the beginning,” says Toni K. Hartke, Director of the Great Start Collaborative – Wayne. “We plan to continue the fund that will be used to provide quality child care scholarships to families in Wayne County.”

To date, collaboratives statewide have raised $3,048,100 in matching funds, with 20 meeting or surpassing their original fundraising goal. Great Start Collaborative – Wayne was one of the collaboratives that surpassed the goal. A total of 813 children have received scholarships statewide.

“Raising a lot of money in a short amount of time was quite a challenge,” added Hartke. “But, the community really responded to the importance of children having a chance at a great start early in life.”

Research has shown that participation in early learning and development programs increases the chances of life success for children while cutting government costs and stimulating local, state and national economies.

In Michigan, the cost to access high quality early learning and development programs is often prohibitive for families. The average cost for a full-time infant or young child in a family child care home or center in Michigan is between $6,400 and $8,900, according to a study by the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies.

In Wayne County, child care costs an average of $7,500 for one child to attend full-time for one school year. For some families that are receiving the scholarship, that can add up to an expense of almost half their annual income.

“When we looked at the numbers, it was very easy to make a case for the importance of this fund,” explains Hartke. “We are grateful to the donors who were willing to listen and make such a powerful decision to support our work.”

Champions of early childhood who helped the Great Start Collaborative of Wayne County exceed their goal includes PNC Foundation, United Way for Southeastern Michigan, Wayne Regional Educational Service Area, The Skillman Foundation, Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation, Colina Foundation and many individuals.

In the last four years, Michigan’s Great Start Collaboratives and ECIC have leveraged over $25 million in funds for early childhood from public and private sources. 

The matching grants were awarded following a proposal process to those collaboratives that met specific funding criteria and had a demonstrated history of strong performance, according to ECIC.

To learn more about the Great Start Early Childhood Scholarship Fund, please contact the Great Start Collaborative – Wayne’s office at (734)285-4001.

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Great Start Collaborative-Wayne began in 2006 as a collaboration of parents, service providers and professionals to assure a coordinated system of services and resources to assist all Wayne County families with children from pre-natal through age eight. GSC-W is a partner of Michigan’s Early Childhood Investment Corporation to assure every child is ready to succeed in school and life.
Visit www.greatstartwayne.org to learn more about our work. 

 The Early Childhood Investment Corporation is a public/private initiative working to restructure Michigan’s investment in children from birth to five through state and local community efforts. For more information about ECIC and its efforts, visit http://greatstartforkids.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:  Angie Bermudez
Angie@greatstartwayne.org