The Greater Salina Community Foundation is pleased to announce the first-ever grants from the Fund for Early Childhood Care, Education & Development.
Grants will fund a variety of early childhood needs including the promotion of literacy through the purchase of books; introduction to technology at a young age; classroom supplies; education extenders and support for early childhood educators.
The Fund for Early Childhood Care, Education & Development was established in 2010 by Mark & Jane Berkley. Additional donations to the fund have come from a variety of donors. The Berkley family wanted to create a fund that would benefit some of the neediest children in our area. Grants will be awarded annually.
Grants were awarded through an application process to organizations or programs whose work furthers the care, education, development, health, safety and human service needs of children ages 0-6 in Saline and Ottawa Counties to better prepare them for kindergarten. Special consideration was given to programs or organizations that work with children in poverty or with other significant barriers to learning.
The following grants were awarded:
$700- USD 239 Parents As Teachers- To purchase updated curriculum and age appropriate books.
$1,000- USD 305 Heartland Programs- To purchase books that can be sent home and kept by the children in the program.
$500- Trinity United Methodist Church Preschool- To purchase classroom cubbies for this brand new preschool in south Salina.
$600- Ottawa County Head Start-To purchase an I-pad with Proloquo2Go for use in the preschool classroom, specifically for use with non-speaking students.
$500- Salina Family YMCA Early Education Center- To purchase themed education kits that students take home to share hands-on learning activities with their families.
$900- Saline County Smart Start- To assist with the local community match for a state grant that funds support programs for early childhood educators.
$500- Saint Mary’s Preschool- To purchase an I-Pad for use by students who currently have limited access to technology.
$500 Salina Child Care Association- To provide teachers in the 5 classrooms funds to replace equipment in the learning centers.
$5,200 Total