CFNC is in The Alexandria News- August 10, 2011-The DreamDog Foundation visited CFNC! Read about the wonderful time had by all in The Alexandria News.
Tenth Annual Multicultral Celebration - , 5/15/2013 - The Child & Family Network Centers is thrilled to host its Tenth Annual Multicultural Celebration. We celebrate the rich and diverse culture of our families, consisting of 25 different languages. This years event is scheduled for Tuesday, May 28, 2013 from 10:00am - 2:00pm at 3701-A Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22305.
CFNC's Executive Assistant, Sandra Fleming writes first book. - , 3/14/2013 - CFNC’s Executive Assistant, Sandra Fleming writes her first book, titled “An Unlikely Trio.” Sandra is a native Washingtonian, who attended Washington, D.C. Public Schools and currently resides in Fort Washington, Maryland.
“An Unlikely Trio” is a children’s book which is a sweet and endearing tale of three unfamiliar friends who meet on a magical island. Sandra shares credit for this story with her beautiful five-year old granddaughter, Kaya Rylee, who first dreamed of this trio. The book teaches children the valuable lessons of spreading love and helping others. Sandra’s reason for putting this story into print is to continue motivating and inspiring her granddaughter to be all she can be, no matter her age.
Sandra’s desire is to support the creativity of other children, helping to potentially bring out their best. Additionally, she hopes that her book will encourage parents to listen more closely to what their children are saying in order to nurture and assist them along this wonderful journey called life!
To find out what’s happening with “An Unlikely Trio”, please visit www.facebook.com/anunlikelytrio to “like” our page or write a comment.
Volunteers Help CFNC Families Celebrate the Holiday Season - , 1/7/2013 - Throughout December, CFNC gratefully accepted the help of volunteers and donors to make this holiday season special for our families. Each year we are overwhelmed by the generosity of our community and the joy the children in our preschool receive, and this year was no exception.
Local individuals and businesses sponsored holiday parties in each classroom. Every party was different, with activities ranging from holiday crafts, puppet shows, dressing students up like snow people, and visits from Santa and Jazz the Dream Dog. CFNC would like to extend a special thanks to party sponsors Blue Sky Puppet Theater, the DreamDog Foundation, Dominion Virginia Power, the Santa We Believe Foundation, Linda and Steve Weitz, and Carol Woodward.
Additionally, many churches, schools, and businesses participated in CFNC’s Adopt-A-Family program, providing holiday gifts for all the families of our students. Thanks to individuals from Alexandria Country Day School, Immanuel Church, Westminster Presbyterian Church, St. Paul’s Church, Resurrection Church, St. Mary’s Church, Meeting House Cooperative Preschool, and Great American Restaurants the children in our program and their siblings had presents to open during the holidays and families received much needed items such as sheets, grocery store gift cards, and pots and pans.
CFNC Wins 2012 GreatNonprofits Award - , 12/5/2012 - CFNC is excited to announce that we have been honored with a prestigious 2012 Top-Rated Award by GreatNonprofits, one of the leading providers of user reviews about nonprofit organizations. The award was based on the large number of positive reviews that CFNC received – reviews written by volunteers, donors and clients.
For example, one student’s parent wrote, “My son is very happy at his "escuelita" as he calls it. I as a mom, am very satisfied with the program. I am very satisfied with the excellent instruction that the children receive so that when they enter kindergarten they will be prepared. The Child and Family Network Centers is a very good organization and I feel privileged that my son attends.”
Being on the Top-Rated list gives donors and volunteers more confidence that this is a credible organization. The reviews by volunteers, clients and other donors show the on-the-ground results of CFNC in the community.
SUCCESS STORY: CFNC’s English as a Second Languages Classes Begin - , 9/28/2012 - CFNC’s English as a Second Language classes are back in session. Classes are available on site twice a day, three days per week. Our daytime classes set us apart from other programs in the area and allow CFNC parents and community members, who work at night, to participate.
This year, we already have a very diverse class, with students from Ethiopia, Pakistan, Morocco, Turkey, Ghana and Central and Latin America. Some of them have been in the United States for a long time, while others have only been here for a couple of months or years. Some of them have jobs where they must speak English; many more have not obtained employment due to a lack of English proficiency.
CFNC is still enrolling students in the program and already has three returning students from last year’s program. One returning student, Rosa, dropped out last year due to a change in her work schedule. Despite leaving the program early, on her intake exam she scored 3 levels above her score last year.
“It is gratifying to see students, like Rosa, come back into the program,” said Eugenie Ballering, CFNC’s ESL instructor. “When I told her she answered the questions quite well, she smiled from ear to ear. She was so proud of herself and happy she could come back to English classes. I am sure she is going to make even more progress this year.”
3rd Annual Woodrow Wilson Bridge Half Marathon Race - , 8/27/2012 - The 3rd Annual Woodrow Wilson Bridge Half Marathon takes place on Sunday, October 7, 2012 at 7:30 AM. The race begins at Mt. Vernon Estates, VA and finishes at the beautiful National Harbor, MD. Over 4,000 runners participated in 2011, coming from as far as the West Coast.
CFNC, along with several other local charities, will benefit from funds raised by the race. Volunteers are needed in various areas: packet stuffing, manning water stops, Finisher Medal distribution, and a host of other wonderful volunteer opportunities. Please click on the above link to learn about the race and to sign-up as a volunteer. Thank You!
Ninth Annual Multicultural Day at CFNC - , 5/30/2012 - On Tuesday, May 29, 2012 more than 300 students, family members, staff and volunteers gathered at the Child & Family Network Centers’ headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia to celebrate the ninth annual Multicultural Day, sponsored by BB&T Bank and Starbucks. In honor of the day that celebrates the rich and diverse cultures of the CFNC community, families prepared food and wore traditional garb from their native countries. Children were entertained by a balloon-making clown, Sesame Street’s “Elmo”, pony rides, a Moon Bounce, face painting, henna tattoos, a petting zoo, a visit by “Raging Reptiles”, and tours of the local fire engine. Sample countries represented by CFNC preschool students and their families include Mongolia, Pakistan, Eritrea, Sri Lanka, Argentina, Guatemala, Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, Bolivia and Belize.
CFNC Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director Margaret Patterson said of the event, “We are so proud and pleased that 25 countries and 10 languages were represented by our families here today, demonstrating the rich and diverse international culture of our extraordinary preschool community.”
CFNC Parent Wins Women’s Opportunity Award - , 3/30/2012 - CFNC parent, Rebecca Tarawally, has been chosen as the Soroptimist International of Alexandria 2012 Women’s Opportunity Award Winner. She was presented with the $3,000 grant at their dinner meeting on March 27th at Belle Haven Country Club in Alexandria. The Soroptimist Women’s Opportunity Awards give women the resources they need to improve their education, skills, and employment prospects. This grant will allow Rebecca to complete her Nursing Degree at the Virginia School of Nursing & Medical Institute.
Rebecca was born in Sierra Leone and came to the United States on a Lottery Visa about 8 years ago to start a new life, progress professionally, and provide for her family at home. Rebecca first became involved with CFNC when her eldest son was enrolled at our preschool in 2006-2007. During that year she built a strong relationship with her preschool Social Worker. With this support, she was able to maintain her job as a single mother while she had her second son; she bought herself a car, began studying for her nursing degree, and moved into her own apartment. Today, her youngest son is a student at CFNC.
“It has been a challenging journey, full of big changes, but it boosted Rebecca to where she is today,” said CFNC social worker, Glymaris Lugo. “This grant represents the reward for all her years of hard work and a bright future for her family.”
Two Students Win Alexandria Art Contest - , 2/1/2012 - CFNC is proud to announce that two of our students recently received awards in the “Alexandria: One City, Many Colors 2011 Art Contest,” sponsored by the Center for Alexandria’s Children. Children living in Alexandria, between the ages of two and eighteen, were asked to create works of art reflecting the city’s diversity. Currently attending preschool at our Birchmere location, Michal Tesfamariam received a first place award and Viviana K. Reyers was awarded third place. In addition, CFNC alum, and Michal’s brother, Joshua Tesfamariam received a first place award in his age division. CFNC teachers and staff could not be more proud!
Zumba Explosion - , 1/17/2012 - Dance off those holiday pounds and keep your New Year's resolution! Join Alexandria's own runningbrooke and five Zumba instructors from X-Factor Fitness (for personal attention and questions) for a rockin' time. Party yourself into shape, let loose and feel the music! Special MC, Maureen Bunyan ABC7/WJLA-TV.
A fun-filled Sunday afternoon (NO football -- this is the weekend in between the Play-Offs and Superbowl) for everyone. Bring your friends and learn something new!
Registration is needed but you don't need to sign up for a specific class. Join in on the Zumba Explosion as it works for you ~ jump in and out of the classes, grab something to eat or drink and socialize with your friends! Party your way into fitness and feel good while you're doing it!
ALL of the proceeds to benefit 5 vital Alexandria-based charities: ACTion Alexandria, Child & Family Network Centers, Community Lodgings, Girls on the Run NOVA and The Reading Connection.
Holiday Parties Galore at CFNC - , 12/8/2011 - Thank you to Santa We Believe Foundation, The Blue Sky Puppet Theater, Dominion Virginia Power and all the other sponsors of a holiday party at CFNC. We appreciate You! Click on the link above to see the photos
CFNC's 2012 Spring Benefit! - , 12/8/2011 - CFNC's 2012 Spring Benefit will take place Saturday, May 12, 2012 at the beautiful home of Lizzie and John Siegel.
Enjoy delicious food, wonderful company and beautiful surroundings--all in support of Northern Virginia's neediest children.
We invite you to check back often for additional information as well as ticket and sponsorship purchases.
We hope to see you May 12, 2012!
PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS TO TEA WITH SANTA ON DECEMBER 18! - , 10/24/2011 - YOU'RE INVITED:
CFNC is hosting Tea with Santa at the elegant Morrison House on Sunday, December 18 from 12 PM - 3 PM. This event is recommended for girls and boys 10 and under, and we ask that there be one adult per three children. Come enjoy Tea with Mrs. B, holiday crafts, and photos with Santa! Purchase tickets and sponsorships online today!
CFNC will participate in Give to the Max Day! - , 10/4/2011 - On November 9th, thousands of area nonprofits will unite to raise millions of dollars as part of the first annual Give to the Max Day: Greater Washington (www.give2max.org)--and CFNC will participate!
Give to the Max Day is a massive one-day regional online fundraiser to support local programs.
Help us succeed in this region-wide competition to raise as much money by as many supporters as possible in order to win hundreds of thousands of dollars in awards!
For 24 hours, starting at 12:00 AM on Nov. 9, visit http://give2max.razoo.com/story/Cfncpreschool to make a donation!
CFNC and McKinley Marketing Group in the News! - , 9/16/2011 - Last week the McKinley Marketing Group made a donation of paper supplies to CFNC. Children and teachers are thrilled to use the supplies to create art projects and to learn important lessons like "how to mail a letter." You can read the full article and see lots of photos at the link above. Thank you McKinley Marketing!
CFNC in the Alexandria Gazette! - , 8/8/2011 - Check out the article about CFNC in the current issue of the Alexandria Gazette Packet!
CFNC is Now on Guidestar! - , 8/5/2011 - CFNC is thrilled to now be a part of GuideStar.org! GuideStar is a “one stop shop” for donors, funders, researchers, educators, professional service providers, governing agencies, and the media to gain quality information on nonprofit organizations. Check out CFNC’s information on GuideStar!
GTS Group Donates Truckloads of Items to CFNC - , 8/5/2011 - Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of the GTS Group, CFNC was the recipient of two truckloads of donated items.
All new and unopened, the donated items include: strollers, bikes, patio furniture, baby monitors, bottle warmers, and a variety of household items. Items will be used to support CFNC's children and families.
Eileen Williams, Director of Operations Support at the GTS Group; Jacob Nguyen, GTS Operations; and Mr. B.K. Nehme, who drove the delivery truck, worked together to coordinate the delivery of goods to CFNC's Birchmere site and we greatly appreciate their kindness!
CFNC's Summer Program - , 8/5/2011 - For the first time in nearly ten years, CFNC has opened its doors for a Summer School Program!
The program runs Monday through Friday from 9 AM-3 PM with extended aftercare until 5 PM and serves children ages three to five years old. Two classrooms are operating at CFNC's Birchmere location in Alexandria and one classroom is operating at CFNC's Virginia Gardens location in Arlington, with a total of 46 children enrolled. The great response from the community for our Summer Program indicates the stunning need for quality activities for preschool age children during the summer months.
Our Summer Program is carefully designed to blend a summer of fun and excitement with rich learning experiences. The activities include arts and crafts, music, dramatic play, stories, physical fitness, expressive art, and games. Every Wednesday is "water day"-a crowd favorite.
CFNC is thrilled to offer its high-quality, award winning program to children this summer and is excited by the success of the program. Staff have commented on how much fun it has been to see and hear CFNC students over the summer months, months that are typically very quiet in the administrative offices, as classrooms have been closed.
And students share our excitement: One of our students is so thrilled to be in the program that every time his mother comes to pick him up at the end of the day, he runs and hides.
We hope that your summer is just as fun-filled and we invite you to join us anytime!
The Morrison House Hosts a Mother & Daughter Tea Party for CFNC - , 6/21/2011 - Mothers and daughters from The Child and Family Network Centers (CFNC) enjoyed an elegant Tea Party on Saturday, June 18 at 11 AM at CFNC’s Birchmere location, thanks to the generosity of Alexandria’s Morrison House, a Kimpton Hotel. The Tea Party, which included traditional tea sandwiches, scones and cookies served on real porcelain tea sets, was presented by Annee Gillett, Director of Catering at The Morrison House and Hotel Monaco, along with her staff as well as CFNC’s Family Support Services department.
Upon arriving, each child received a tiara, necklace and bracelet to complete their tea party attire. After enjoying the food, mothers and daughters created butterflies out of arts and crafts materials and then enjoyed a reading by The Morrison House staff of Ms. Spider’s Tea Party. Children took home their crafts, costume jewelry, a book and, most importantly, the memories of a unique opportunity and quality time spent with their mothers.
Glymaris Lugo, a Social Worker at CFNC who helped put on the event, noted: “The girls and their mothers had such a wonderful time! This may be a once in a lifetime opportunity for the children and families that CFNC serves, and certainly a special event for them.”
CFNC is very appreciative of Ms. Gillett and her staff at The Morrison House for hosting the tea party and looks forward to working with the Kimpton group on future events.
CFNC's 2011 Multicultural Celebration - , 5/27/2011 - CFNC’s Multicultural Celebration took place on Wednesday, May 18 with 335 children and their families, ESL students, services providers, and City of Alexandria dignitaries in attendance. The purpose of this annual event is to celebrate CFNC’s diversity by bringing our multicultural families together for a day of fun, music, and games for all. As part of the celebration of diversity, families are encouraged to wear traditional dress from their native countries.
The activities provided were made possible by monies raised from raffle tickets sold by CFNC student’s parents. This year, guests enjoyed face painting, a variety of games and arts and crafts, a clown, a larger than life Elmo, a moon bounce, petting zoo and pony rides—to name a few! A variety of service providers also were present at the event—including PNC Bank, The Center for Employment Training, and a Nurse Practitioner offering health information-- to serve the needs of CFNC’s clients. Among the City of Alexandria dignitaries in attendance were Congressman Jim Moran and Councilman Rob Krupicka.
The children and families enjoyed a multi-cultural feast representing 23 different countries and 10 languages. CFNC thanks the Birchmere for opening up their dining space for our guests when the weather turned to rain. No doubt that a wonderful time was had by all at this year’s Multicultural Celebration!
CFNC's 2011 Annual Spring Benefit! - , 5/16/2011 - The Child & Family Network Centers (CFNC) held its Annual Spring Benefit on Friday, May 13, 2011 at the beautiful home of Jennifer and Jim Rooney in Alexandria. Nearly 300 guests, including Congressman Jim Moran, celebrated CFNC’s 27 years as well as welcomed CFNC’s new Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer Margaret Patterson. It was a lovely party with delicious food, wonderful company, an exciting Silent Auction and magnificent views of the Potomac River--all in support of CFNC’s mission to provide caring, high-quality, free education and related services to at-risk children and their families in their own neighborhoods in order to prepare them for success in school and life.
CFNC would like to thank the Rooneys for sharing their home, the 2011 Benefit Committee for their hard work and creativity and the many dedicated sponsors and guests that helped make this year’s Benefit a success.
Enjoy photos in the Photo Galleries section of CFNC's website.
Brooke Curran and CFNC featured on WUSA9.com - , 3/23/2011 - CFNC is thrilled to be featured with Brooke Curran on WUSA9.com. Brooke was selected as this week's "Super NOVA" by USA9 and CFNC was included as one of the five Alexandria charities that she supports. Check out the link above!
VETERAN EXEC MARGARET PATTERSON TAKES REINS OF THE CHILD & FAMILY NETWORK CENTERS - , 3/22/2011 - Margaret Patterson, a 30-year advocate for children, has been hired as Executive Director of The Child & Family Network Centers (CFNC), the CFNC Board announced today.
Patterson most recently served as Chief Executive/President of ChildCareGroup in Dallas, a $15-million non-profit with a mission of providing and improving child care in the state of Texas. Prior to that, she served for 17 years as the Executive Director of Child Abuse Prevention Center of Dallas/Fort Worth.
Please click on the link above to read the full story.
Brooke Curran Presents Check to CFNC - , 2/24/2011 - CFNC is honored to be one of five recipients of The RunningBrooke Fund. Runner extraordinaire and founder of the Fund, Brooke Curran, stopped by CFNC on February 24 to present the contribution and take photos with students.
As always, Brooke brought her amazing and seemingly endless energy to CFNC and had a wonderful time visiting students on the playground and surrounding herself with children! "I just love the little ones," she said. "They bring so much joy."
Brooke's mission is to "Run Globally and Act Locally!" so she has committed to completing one marathon per month on every continent, in each of the 50 states and the five world majors (Boston, New York, London, Chicago and Berlin) while raising money to support Alexandria charities through her RunningBrooke Fund. So far, Brooke has completed marathons in 21 states, four of the five majors and on five continents, with Antarctica and Africa still on her to-do list.
In 2010, CFNC was also very fortunate to be the recipient of money raised through The RunningBrooke Fund and is thrilled about the progress that Brooke has made in 2011 towards her goal to raise $50,000. To read more about Brooke, where she's running next and how you can become a part of the race, visit her website at www.runningbrooke.com.
Moonlight on the Potomac: CFNC's 2011 Annual Spring Benefit! - , 2/4/2011 - CFNC's 2011 Annual Spring Benefit--"Moonlight on the Potomac"-- will take place on Friday, May 13 from 7 PM to 10 PM at the lovely home of Jennifer and Jim Rooney. There attendees will enjoy delicious food, wonderful company and beautiful views--all in support of Northern Virginia's neediest children.
Special thanks to the Freddie Mac Foundation for their continued support of CFNC’s work.
For more information on ticket purchase and sponsorship, please visit our Events page.
Turn Your Old Electronics into Cash for CFNC - http://cfnc.gazelle.com/, 1/7/2011 - Through the end of the school year (June) CFNC is hosting an online gadget drive through Gazelle.com to raise money to support our programs.
A gadget drive is a new way to fundraise that turns your used electronics (laptops, cell phones, MP3 players, digital cameras, video games & more) into cash to support a cause. Contributing to CFNC's drive is simple and free. Just visit our drive webpage at http://cfnc.gazelle.com/, find the value of the gadgets you would like to donate, print out the automatically generated shipping label and send them to Gazelle. CFNC will be sent a check for the value of these items.
If you would like to donate, please check out CFNC's drive webpage to learn more and track our progress towards our goal to raise $2,000 by June. You will receive a confirmation of your donation by email, and CFNC will be notified as soon as you make your donation.
Thank you for your support.
CFNC Supporter and Runner Extraordinaire, Brooke Curran, in Washingtonian - , 1/5/2011 - CFNC supporter, Alexandria resident and runner extraordinaire, Brooke Curran, was featured in December's Washingtonian Magazine and CFNC is mentioned!
Guided by the mantra “Run Globally and Act Locally!”, Brooke has committed to completing one marathon per month on every continent, in each of the 50 states and the five world majors (Boston, New York, London, Chicago and Berlin) while raising money to support Alexandria charities. She founded the RunningBrooke Fund and partnered with Alexandria Community Trust (ACT). In 2009, CFNC was selected as the first beneficiary of the RunningBrooke Fund. The money will is used to support CFNC’s two classrooms at the Charles Houston Recreation Center, where 36 children receive a free, high-quality preschool education and their families benefit from a variety of services such as ESL classes, job training and health screenings.
CFNC students will be warm, thanks to employees of Liberty Mutual & Enterprise - , 1/5/2011 - A warm coat is a necessity in our area during the winter time, though quite often something our children and families go without. That's why we are positively thrilled to have the generous support of local Liberty Mutual Insurance and Enterprise Rent-A-Car employees and friends who partnered up to provide more than 150new winter coats to CFNC students this year.
It was a team effort of the Fairfax, VA and Hunt Valley, MD offices of Liberty Mutual and DC metro area Enterprise offices, as employees worked together to purchase the proper pre-specified size and color coat for each CFNC student. Their effort was tremendous.
Not satisfied with simply making the purchases, employees from Liberty Mutual and Enterprise took a day off to deliver the coats to CFNC and meet the children who will be kept warm in them. Rick Watkins, Erin Wood and Gina Cernak of Liberty Mutual and Lisa Tolbert from Enterprise had a wonderful time getting to know the children and revealing their new winter coats...and, as you can see from the faces here, children were overjoyed. Liberty Mutual and Enterprise described their experience as "wonderful!" "great!" "far exceeded expectations!" "truly made a difference!" It was a very positive day for all.
A very heartfelt thanks to the employees of Liberty Mutual and Enterprise for their extraordinary kindness. CFNC children will run around and play outside this winter, warm and cozy in their new coats.
To read these and other heartwarming stories from CFNC's holiday season, please visit our blog: http://cfncnetworknews.blogspot.com/?PageId=7&SubId=86
CFNC & Harris Teeter's "Together in Education" Program - , 1/5/2011 - CFNC will continue to benefit from Harris Teeter's Together in Education program- a fundraising program for schools in the communities where Harris Teeter grocery stores are located-through May 2011. When customers purchase select Harris Teeter Brand products using their VIC card, Harris Teeter contributes a percentage of those purchase dollars to the schools of the customer's choice.
In the 2009/10 school year, the Harris Teeter program raised nearly $1.4 million for participating schools, but CFNC received less than $100. We need your help to raise significantly more during this upcoming school year by linking your Harris Teeter card to CFNC. There are two ways to do so: (1) You can simply give the cashier your Harris Teeter VIC Card and the school's Together in Education number (CFNC's number is 6467) during checkout or, better yet, you can link your Harris Teeter VIC card directly to CFNC by registering online here:
http://www.harristeeter.com/community/together_in_education/link_to_your_school.aspx
The program runs from August 1, 2010 thru May 31, 2011, but you can register your card online anytime.
We hope you will think of us in the check-out line at Harris Teeter...and spread the word to family and friends!
Thank you for your help--CFNC won the Deals for Deeds voting contest! - , 12/20/2010 - Last week we asked that you vote for CFNC's participation in Deals for Deeds and this week we're proud to announce that we've received the most number of votes! Thank you for your help to vote and spread the word. As a result, CFNC will be featured on the Deals for Deeds website at www.dealsfordeeds.com this entire week (12/20-12/26)!
What this means is that a minimum of 5% of every sale on the Deals for Deeds website all this week will come to CFNC to support and enhance CFNC's preschool science program. Deals For Deeds is an innovative new platform that helps non-profits raise funds and awareness while offering great deals on the best the DC-area has to offer like spas, restaurants, bars, and more--all at 30-50% off. Everyday there is a new, great deal offered for purchase and there will be some pretty neat deals offered this week in honor of the season. So we hope that you will check out www.dealsfordeeds.com --perhaps you need a last minute holiday gift?-- and please spread the word to your family, friends and colleagues. The more deals purchased this week, the more CFNC benefits!
Vote for CFNC to particpate in Deals for Deeds! - , 12/13/2010 - All this week (12/13-12/17) The Child & Family Network Centers (CFNC) will be up for voting on DealsForDeeds.com. Deals For Deeds is an innovative new platform that helps non-profits like CFNC raise funds and awareness while offering great deals on the best the DC-area has to offer like spas, restaurants, bars, and more--all at 30-50% off. In order for CFNC to be featured, we need to win the voting contest this week, so please create a free account and vote for us! It's completely free and only takes a minute. You can do all this here:
www.dealsfordeeds.com/social_giving
You'll find CFNC listed second under "Interactive Polls." Select "Login to Vote" below CFNC's project description to create your account and select CFNC.
Thank you in advance for your support!
RunningBrooke and Kiskadee Boutique - , 11/19/2010 - Kiskadee is doing it again! 20% of sales will go to the RunningBrooke Fund benefitting Alexandria's at-risk kids and families--including CFNC.
This event was a huge success earlier this Fall. Come do ALL of your holiday shopping. See your friends and know that you're supporting community organizations like CFNC.
Special RunningBrooke hours with refreshments Wednesday, Dec. 1, 5:30 - 7:30, and ALL day Thursday, Dec. 2. Make sure to mention RunningBrooke upon check-out.
Kiskadee Boutique is located in the heart of Del Ray:
2205 Mt. Vernon Ave.
Alexandria, VA 22301
Vote for CFNC's "Power of 8" Video - , 11/15/2010 - CFNC recently participated in The Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington's "Power of 8" Video Contest. Contestants were charged with creating a 30 to 60 second video focusing on an "8" word like celebrate, generate, collaborate, educate, etc. Now through December 1 you can vote for CFNC's Video "CFNC: We Educate!" by giving it a "thumbs up." The winning video will be featured on the Catalogue's blog. Please vote today and spread the word! http://www.youtube.com/user/CatalogueDC#p/c/2124678D71489DDC
Please continue to "shop 'til you drop" for CFNC! - , 11/3/2010 - Raise funds for CFNC when you shop at iGive.com--a website that donates a percentage of purchases at participating stores (like Old Navy, Bed Bath & Beyond, William Sonoma, DSW, Gap, Eddie Bauer, J.Crew-- 823 in total!) to your charity of choice (including CFNC!) when you purchase items online. A great way to do your holiday...or ANYTIME shopping!
You can use iGive.com to raise money for CFNC every time you shop online at any of their 823 participating stores. And when you search the web through iSearchiGive.com (a search engine powered by iGive!), you raising a penny or more for CFNC every time.
**If you do happen to make a purchase through iGive within 45 days of joining, they'll donate an EXTRA $5 to CFNC!
HOW IT WORKS:
1. Join iGive.com to support The Child & Family Network Centers. It's free, safe, and easy to join. Use this link:
http://www.iGive.com/welcome/warmwelcome.cfm?c=49690&m=751064
Don't feel like registering? Take iSearchiGive.com out for a spin and raise a penny (or more!) per search. Just visit http://www.iSearchiGive.com and type "The Child & Family Network Centers" in the "Select Your Cause" area.
2. Shop ('til you drop!) through iGive.com's online mall OR Raise a penny search at iSearchiGive.com
3. Watch the $$ roll in for The Child & Family Network Centers!
Up to 26% of EACH purchase through iGive benefits your cause, along with a penny (or more!) per qualified search at iSearchiGive.com. Make that first purchase within 45 days and get a bonus $5 donation, too!
**Please note: CFNC only benefits when you make your purchases through the iGive website...if you go directly to the retailers' website and make purchases, CFNC will not benefit.
Spread the word!
Everyone was a WINNER at Acumen Solutions Race for a Cause™! - , 11/3/2010 - As you know, CFNC was very pleased to have been selected as one of 12 nonprofit organizations to partner with Acumen Solutions for the 2nd Annual Race for a Cause™ 8K and 1 Mile Fun Run. The event took place on Sunday, October 17 in Arlington, VA and was a great success.
Each of the 12 organizations selected was charged with recruiting 100 participants to register for the race and select their organization as the participant's charity of choice. The CFNC community rallied their friends and family and, as a result, 114 people signed up in support of CFNC!
CFNC staff and Board Members enjoyed participating as runners and spectators. Social Worker Glymaris Lugo (pictured on left) oversaw a CFNC table in the start/finish area and chatted with participants about CFNC's work.
THANK YOU, CFNC Community, for supporting our cause by registering. A BIG THANKS to the staff at Acumen Solutions for coordinating the race and helping so many families in need throughout the greater Washington DC area. CFNC hopes to be a part of this event for many years to come.
Acumen Solutions' previous 10K road races and last year's Acumen Solutions Race for a Cause™ 8K have contributed over $125,000 to benefit local nonprofits. The company has contributed over $1 million dollars to charitable causes since inception. To find out more about the race, the results and the participating organizations please visit www.acumensolutions.com/theraceforacause
CFNC to Benefit from Immanuel Church on the Hill's Annual Pumpkin Sale - , 10/11/2010 - CFNC will once again benefit from proceeds of Immanuel Church on the Hill's annual pumpkin sale. To purchase your pumpkin, crafts and baked goods and support CFNC among other local agencies as well as tribal communities, please visit Immanuel Church on the Hill located at 3606 Seminary Road from 10 AM to 8 PM daily. For more information call (703) 370-6555. Thank you for supporting CFNC by participating in this annual fall tradition!
CFNC Earns High Marks In New Star Rating System - , 10/5/2010 - CFNC is among the first child care centers and preschools in the Commonwealth to receive a star rating as part of Virginia Star Quality Initiative, a quality rating and improvement system for early learning programs. By participating in the initiative, early learning programs are awarded one of five star levels of increasing quality. CFNC received three four-star ratings and two three-star ratings for the five Alexandria sites that participated in 2010. Click on the link above to read the full story.
CFNC Goes Back to School with Harris Teeter & Safeway - , 8/12/2010 - CFNC is preparing for the 2010/2011 school year with help from Harris Teeter's and Safeway's back-to-school fundraising programs. As a participant, CFNC will receive a percentage of qualifying purchases made by customers who have linked their club cards to CFNC. Here's how you can make your purchases help the nearly 200 children and families that CFNC serves this school year:
Safeway
Step 1: Sign up for free now. Log onto www.escrip.com anytime, register your Safeway Club Card and select The Child & Family Network Centers, by searching our Group Number: 500004246.
Step 2: Shop at Safeway and purchase specially marked products. When shopping at Safeway stores between August 11, 2010 and September 14, 2010, look for yellow School Bus tags on over 2,000 participating products. When purchasing these products, present your Safeway Club Card at check-out. You will be able to check your receipts throughout the program to see how much of your purchases will go to CFNC. The total will be updated after each shopping trip at the bottom of the store receipt.
Step 3: Between September 18, 2010, and October 13, 2010, your Safeway receipts will provide a redemption code, located at the bottom of each receipt. In order for CFNC to receive the funds, you will need to either: (1) log on and enter your redemption code(s) at www.escrip.com OR (2) mail/drop-off your receipts at CFNC (3701 A Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria, VA 22305). You can return to www.escrip.com as many times as necessary between September 18, 2010 and October 13, 2010 to register additional receipt codes.
Harris Teeter
Step 1: Link your card to CFNC! This can be done two ways: (1) You can simply give the cashier your Harris Teeter VIC Card and the school's Together in Education number (CFNC's number is 6467) during checkout OR (2) You can link your Harris Teeter VIC card directly to CFNC by registering online here: http://www.harristeeter.com/community/together_in_education/link_to_your_school.aspx
The program runs from August 1, 2010 thru May 31, 2011, but you can register your card online anytime.
We hope you will think of us in the check-out line at Harris Teeter and Safeway...and spread the word to family and friends!
Woodrow Wilson Bridge 1/2 Marathon, a great success! Don't forget about the upcoming Acumen Solutions Race for a Cause 8K! - , 7/28/2010 - CFNC was thrilled to be a part of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Half Marathon on Sunday, September 19, 2010. CFNC staff volunteered a total of 54 hours to prepare for and promote the event and two staff members ran the scenic course, along with Race Ambassador Doreen Gentzler and 4,000 other participants. Check out the photos in the Photo Gallery.
Autumn is a wonderful time for outdoor exercise-especially while supporting a great cause! There is another opportunity to do so that we hope you'll take part in. CFNC is also proud to announce that we will be partnering with Acumen Solutions for their 2nd Annual Race for a Cause™ 8K and 1K Fun Run race on Sunday, October 17, 2010 in Arlington, VA. CFNC will be one of 12 charities benefitting from the race and it's up to the runner or walker to pick which charity their donation will benefit. The 1 mile format has been added this year to give families and young runners a chance to participate. Two-thousand dollars in combined prizes will be awarded to winners. Acumen Solutions' previous 10K road races and last year's Acumen Solutions Race for a Cause™ 8K have contributed over $125,000 to benefit local nonprofits. The company has contributed over $1 million dollars to charitable causes since inception. This is the first time that CFNC will benefit from this event. For more detailed information and registration go to www.theraceforacause.com
Check out the link below for a PSA promoting the race and asking that you support CFNC upon registration. Spread the word!
http://www.youtube.com/acumensolutions#p/c/EB5A8508FED4E3D3/5/PkVM9-uue9k
CFNC selected by The Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington - , 6/18/2010 - The Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington recently announced that The Child & Family Network Centers has been selected to be featured in the 2010-11 Catalogue. A panel of 100 expert reviewers from area foundations, corporate giving programs, peer non-profit organizations, and the DC government evaluated nearly 250 applications; The Child & Family Network Centers is one of 70 outstanding nonprofits to be featured this year.
"Charities were selected for excellence, cost-effectiveness, and impact," Barbara Harman, President and Editor of the Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington said. “These are certainly among the best community-based nonprofits in the Washington region.”
The Catalogue enables smaller non-profits to tell their stories to individuals who would otherwise never hear them, and to encourage those individuals to get engaged and to give. It also provides charities with a stamp of approval that tells donors they can invest with confidence because the Catalogue vets its family of nonprofits with great care.
2010 Annual Spring Benefit a Great Success! - , 5/20/2010 - CFNC is thrilled by the success of this year's Annual Spring Benefit, which took place Saturday, May 8, 2010 at the beautiful home of Catie & Steven Peterson. At the benefit, CFNC celebrated the extraordinary career of Founder and Executive Director Barbara Fox Mason upon her retirement. Delicious food, lovely surroundings and wonderful company were enjoyed by nearly 300 guests. Photos of the event are available in the Photo Gallery.
CFNC's Founder and Executive Director, Barbara Fox Mason, to retire in June - , 3/24/2010 - Barbara's motto has been, "Preschool is not a luxury, it is a necessity." Upon Barbara's retirement in June of this year, CFNC will remain committed to Barbara's vision to provide free preschool and related services to at-risk children and their families in Northern Virginia.
Barbara will be dearly missed by the staff at CFNC and those in the community whose lives she has changed. Notice of her retirement was made available to local media outlets in late March and we invite you to read the press release at the link above.
Brooke Curran Presents Check to CFNC - , 2/1/2010 - Brooke Curran and the RunningBrooke Fund awarded $20,000 to The Child & Family Network Centers!
To follow Brooke on her amazing journey as she runs a marathon on every continent, every state and all of the marathon majors while raising money for local Alexandria charities, please visit www.runningbrooke.com
Preschool Needed to Ensure National Security - Mission Readiness, 9/21/2009 - A recent report released by Mission Readiness, a bipartisan, non-profit national security organization of more than 80 retired generals and admirals, makes a compelling case for the need early education across Virginia to ensure national security. Read the report by clicking on the link above.
Nobel Prize Winning Economist Concludes Early Childhood Education is the Best Investment America Can Make - James Heckman, 9/16/2009 - In a speech delivered in Washington, D.C. on September 16, 2009, James Heckman, a Nobel Prize winning University of Chicago Economics Professor, concluded, "Society can save resources later on by heading off problems by early interventions. Payoffs to these policies come early by reducing burdens on schools and the juvenile justice system. The policy pays for itself many times over. If society adopts a long-run point of view, it will implement early childhood programs that reduce deficits and produce substantial social payoffs."
Oct. 1 - 3: Shop at any Barnes & Noble, Raise Money for CFNC - CFNC, 9/10/2009 - By participating in the Barnes & Noble Bookfair on Oct. 1st - 3rd, you will help CFNC raise money to purchase books and classroom supplies for preschool children living in poverty. Help us start the year off right! Visit any Barnes & Noble, and prior to making a purchase let them know that you intend for your purchase to benefit The Child & Family Network Centers. You will need to provide the following number: 565713. A percentage of your purchase will be donated to CFNC.
VPP News: CFNC’s Family Services Helps Families Make Gains - VPP News, 7/27/2009 - When people think of The Child & Family Network Centers, preschool is typically the word that comes to mind, for good reason. Each year, CFNC provides nationally accredited preschool, free of charge, to nearly 200 children living in poverty, preparing them for success in school and in life. Yet CFNC also provides an array of family support services, including ESL classes, job placement services, and health services that give children what they need most: strong, healthy, stable families to nurture and support them in their journey through school and life.
The situations of the parents CFNC served this year were generally similar to years past, including poverty, limited English proficiency, lack of knowledge about how to access services, and lack of confidence in partnering in their child's education. However, this year also yielded a significant increase in the number of unemployed parents, likely due to the current recession. CFNC’s social workers, each with an average case load of 60 families, spent more time helping parents secure jobs, gain training to be more competitive in the job marketplace, and/or avoid or overcome foreclosure on their homes.
The results from these initiatives indicate a successful approach. Read more by following the link above.
CFNC on NBC 4 News - NBC News, 5/11/2009 - Every child deserves the opportunity to start school prepared to learn. Watch the NBC 4 News special coverage about CFNC.
Join Us April 30 For Happy Hour Fundraiser in Adams Morgan - CFNC, 4/27/2009 - Join us this Thursday from 6-9pm at The Blaguard in Adams Morgan for a Happy Hour Fundraiser. Proceeds from the event will help CFNC open two new classrooms in the fall.
Celebrating its 25th Anniversary of service, CFNC provides free, accredited preschool and comprehensive family support services to at risk children and their families.
CFNC will be opening two new classrooms in Fall 2009 that will provide free, accredited preschool to 18 children each, all of whom live at or below 185% of poverty. There are currently 128 children on the waitlist who could be benefiting from CFNC’s services. In order to open the new classrooms, CFNC needs to purchase furniture and school supplies at a cost of $2600 per classroom.
100% of the proceeds will go directly to outfitting these classrooms in the Charles Houston Recreation Center, Alexandria, VA. We need your help to provide these children with the high-quality education they deserve!
For $20 at the door, enjoy all-you-can-drink Yuengling and house wine. There will also be a silent auction with great prizes to bid on as well.
5 Days of Style, Fashion & Jewelry that Benefit CFNC's children - Mystique Fine Jewelry Designs, 3/26/2009 - MYSTIQUE FINE JEWELRY DESIGNS presents the first annual 5 Days of Style, Fashion and Jewelry (April 21-25, 2009) a 5 day event filled with fashion experts and jewelry designers -featuring Elizabeth Showers seen in Town and Country Magazine and seen on Celebrities and the Grammy Red Carpet. Proceeds of this event will be given to The Child & Family Network Centers, which provides high quality free education to at risk families.
25th Anniversary Benefit to be Held at Steven and Catie Peterson's New Home - CFNC, 3/4/2009 - Steven and Catie Peterson have generous agreed to host CFNC's 25th Anniversary Benefit at their new home on the evening of April 24th, 2009. They write, "We are proud to support an organization which has such a far reaching impact...By joining us in April, you will be making an investment in the future of our region's at-risk children and their families and empowering them to thrive in school and life."
We hope to see you on the 24th. Please call for more informatin (703-836-0214).
Rainbow Sponsor, BAE Systems, proudly presents CFNC's 25th Anniversary Benefit - CFNC, 3/4/2009 - On April 24th, CFNC will celebrate 25 years of provding preschool to neighbors in need! Commenting on BAE's sponsorship of the event, Linda Hudson, President of BAE Systems, Land and Armaments, wrote, "Child & Family Network Centers has made a difference in the lives of many low income minority children in our local area. BAE Systems believes in the importance of education and empowering our children to excel. The Centers does a superb job in providing caring, high-quality free education and other related services that would not be available otherwise. We are proud to sponsor such a worthy cause."
Washingtonian Selects CFNC as One of Top 64 Charities to Support - Washingtonian Magazine, 12/1/2008 - We are happy to share with you that we were selected by the Washingtonian Magazine as one of the top 64 charities in DC Metropolitan region to support this holiday season! At the beginning of the article under the sub-section "Where to Give?" they introduce their selections by writing, "Washington is home to more than 8,000 nonprofits, and choosing which ones to support isn't easy. We consulted dozens of local philanthropy experts--including heads of foundations and corporate-giving coordinators--to come up with this list of charities. We also considered which groups have received awards for the impact they've had."
They included a big picture of one our teachers working with children (p.80) which helps draw attention to the great description they have written about CFNC: "This network of free preschools helps get low-income minority children on track for academic success. It also runs a family literacy program and provides social services to parents. Kids in the program have shown almost twice the gains over the course of a year as their peers nationwide."
Check out the full article which should be on newsstands now!
Alexandria Buick Pontiac GMC Saves the Day, Buys Turkeys - CFNC, 11/25/2008 - Each year, CFNC receives turkey dinners from McLean Bible Church and Westminster Presbyterian to distribute to our families the weekend before Thanksgiving. However, this year, due to the difficult economic times, there were not enough turkeys for all of the families we serve. John Herrity at Alexandria Buick Pontiac GMC found out about this need and brought it to the attention of the owner Steve Niswander. They decided to buy the 60 turkeys we needed to make sure every family this Thanksgiving received one! When asked why they decided to buy the turkeys, Mr. Herrity replied, "We are very big on supporting children in this city, and we have been for the last 3 years, aggressively. Things are tight for everybody but when it comes to something like this, it is hard to say no." In a week of thanksgiving, we all are certainly very thankful for the generosity of Alexandria Buick Pontiac GMC.
Donor reads USA Today article, gives $20K - CFNC, 11/13/2008 - After reading an article in the October 27th Money Section of USA Today, a person called from Manhattan to donate $20,000! What a generous gift! And it could not have come at a better time as we face decreased giving across the board due to the difficult economic times. Our sincerest gratitude goes out to this person who was moved to action by the USA Today story. More will follow on this story soon.
'The Littlest Victims of the Mortgage Crisis' - The Washington Post, 11/13/2008 - by Brigid Schulte
The long arm of the global financial crisis reached down into Morena Parada's preschool classroom, where a little girl named Joeli Arias-Lopez painted bright green and orange splotches on an oversize easel and pronounced it a house.
The 4-year-old was blissfully unaware that her school, the Child and Family Network Center, stays open in this converted warehouse with a grant from the now-foundering Freddie Mac Foundation. Or that without that money, which was expected last month, her school, filled with bright puzzles, toys, blocks and dedicated teachers, might end the year early or close down altogether.
To read more follow the link above.
Boeing Employees Help Build Shed, Paint Rooms - CFNC, 10/27/2008 - On Saturday, October 27th, Boeing employees helped CFNC build a new shed and paint our parent resource room. Boeing is a long time supporter of CFNC and one the philanthropic leaders in early childhood education. On behalf of the children and families who will benefit from this volunteer event, we extend our sincerest gratitude to all of the Boeing employees who gave up a Saturday to give back to low-income families.
CFNC featured in USA Today - USA Today, 10/27/2008 - A story about CFNC appears in today's USA Today on the front page of the Money section. To read the article, click on the link above.
CFNC Opens New Classroom in Arlington - CFNC, 10/27/2008 - On Saturday, the Arlington Housing Corportation opened a new community center at their Gates of Ballston housing complex, which provides low-income families with affordable housing. The community center will house one new CFNC classroom that will provide 16 children per year with free preschool. The opening of this new site brings CFNC's total number of preschool centers to six, with 4 in Alexandria and 2 in Arlington.
Surprise Location for Special 25th Anniversary Gala to be Announced Soon - CFNC, 10/22/2008 - We will be announcing the location for our spring gala which will kickoff our 25th Year in November's e-newsletter. If you don't receive our newsletters and would like to, simply click on the stay informed button on our home page and fill in your name and email address.
Shop at Safeway and earn 10% for CFNC! - Safeway, 8/15/2008 - The “Safeway 10% Back to Schools” promotion shopping period starts on August 6th and ends on September 9th. Your participation can mean hundreds of dollars for our group. Last year, the top group in the nation earned over $20,000 in just 6 weeks!
Sign up today!
1)Have your Safeway card available.
2)Visit Escrip website by clicking on the title above
3)Click on “1-Sign Up”
4)Choose “Child and Family Network” or Group ID 500004246
5)Present your Club Card every time you shop and our group earns!
It’s Easy to Renew!
If you participated last year, don’t forget to renew to continue earning Safeway contributions.
1)Have your Safeway card available
2)Visit Escrip website by clicking on the title above
3)Click on “YES RENEW”
CFNC featured in September edition of Real Simple (p.90) - , 8/4/2008 - CFNC was honored to be profiled in the September edition of Real Simple. The piece features a conversation between our Executive Director, Barbara Mason, and long-time board member, Dagobert Soergel. The issue just hit newsstands. See Page 90 or click on the link above and scroll down to page 2!
Shop at Harris Teeter & Help Children - Harris Teeter, 8/1/2008 - Help get our new school year off to a good start by enrolling in the Harris Teeter and the Together in Education program. Starting Aug. 1, 2008 it is time to RELINK your VIC card or link it to CFNC for the first time! Re-linking is easy with one of the following methods:
(1) Call Customer Service at 1-800-423-6111
(2) The register at checkout
(3) Visit harristeeter.com, click on Together in Education
Select The Child and Family Network Centers (#6467) to earn money for our programs serving children and their families living in poverty.
Thanks!
CFNC receives grants from Boeing - , 7/1/2008 - Boeing gives CFNC $40,000 to support our Early Childhood Education programming and build the capacity of our development department. Thank you Boeing!
City of Alexandria awards CFNC Mini-Grant - , 7/1/2008 - Alexandria Early Childhood Commission awarded CFNC funds for curriculum support, professional development, and developmental screening. Thank you to Alexandria Early Childhood Commission!
The Cafritz Foundation Awards CFNC 2-Year Grant - , 6/30/2008 - The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation awarded CFNC a two year grant to support our general operations. Thank you to the Cafritz Foundation for being a long time champion for Northern Virginia's low-income families!
Dimick Foundation Awards CFNC Grant - , 6/22/2008 - The Dimick Foundation awards CFNC a $2,500 grant to support our early literacy programming for children living in poverty. Thank you Dimick Foundation!
Event sponsors Burke and Herbert and PNC make Multicultural Party a huge success - Alexandria Gazette, 6/18/2008 - With more than 300 in attendance and help from event sponsors Burke and Herbert Bank and PNC Bank, CFNC's 2008 Multicultural Party was a smashing success! Click on the link for details on the event plus some great pictures.
Dominion Foundation Awards CFNC Grant - , 6/2/2008 - The Dominion Foundation awarded CFNC a grant to support our Preschool Science! program. Thank you Dominion!
Acumen Solutions to Place 20 Senior Employees on Non-profit Boards - Washington Post, 5/19/2008 - Acumen Solutions announced that it will place 20 of its senior employees on boards of nonprofit groups by the end of the year. The organizations include Child and Family Network Centers, Heads Up, Hope Rising, the Greater Washington Sports Alliance and the Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Mid-Atlantic.
CFNC receives grant from the Herb Block Foundation - CFNC, 5/13/2008 - We received funding from the Herb Block Foundation through the Pathways Out of Poverty Program to support and expand our Family Support Services that build strong, healthy, capable families.
CFNC Classroom Recognized as Demonstration Classroom - High/Scope Consultant, 5/12/2008 - One of CFNC's classrooms at our Birchmere center was recognized as a Demonstration Classroom for the High/Scope Education Approach.
Barbara Mason honored as Nonprofit Leader of the Year - Alexandria Volunteer Bureau, 4/30/2008 - On Friday, April 25th the City of Alexandria recognized and honored CFNC's Executive Director, Barbara Mason, as the 2008 Nonprofit Leader of the Year at the 10th anniversary of Alexandria's Business Philanthropy Summit.
8th Annual Gala To Honor Senator Webb - CFNC, 4/4/2008 - CFNC will honor Senator Webb on April 27th at its 8th Annual Gala, An Evening in the Vineyards.
CFNC Named One of Region's Top Preschools - Northern Virginia Magazine, 1/8/2008 - Northern Virginia Magazine selected CFNC as one of the region’s top preschools, declaring, “It’s hard to argue with a preschool program that shows twice the student gains of other programs, especially when that program serves low-income families.”
Pitching for Preschool, With Eye on Future - Washington Post, 10/25/2007 - Photos of CFNC students featured in article regarding Gov. Kaine’s efforts to expand pre-k funding.
Preschool Space Is at a Premium - Washington Post, 4/26/2006 - CFNC highlighted in article describing the challenge of finding suitable, affordable space for classrooms.
'Strong Families, Lasting Change' - Annie E. Casey Foundation, 11/18/2002 - "In 1989, Lydia Smith-Bates saw a future for her family she didn’t like. Unmarried with three young children, Smith-Bates lived below the poverty line in public housing and held a dead-end job.
Because she wanted something better for her children, she enrolled them in a preschool at the Child and Family Network Centers. She didn’t know she would also get something much better for herself, too.
Today, Smith-Bates owns her own home and works at a job she loves as lead teacher at one of the Child and Family Network Centers’ four preschools. She has benefited from Director Barbara Mason’s guiding philosophy: Children are successful when their families are strong."
Read the full article by clicking on the link above.
“CFNC is to be commended on setting a standard of excellence that is recognized throughout the area. I salute you for a job well done.”
