The Golden Belt Community Foundation’s enhanced focus on child care is dovetailing nicely with two recent local grants - one to a new preschool, the other to an established entity, said Christy Tustin, GBCF executive director.
The new Little Panthers Preschool in Great Bend’s USD 428 received a $40,000 grant from an anonymous Great Bend family, while St. John’s Child Development Center in Ellinwood received $5,000 from the Kansas Health Foundation Youth Endowment Fund at GBCF.
“Little Panthers Preschool will have an immediate impact on bringing additional preschool spaces to USD 428 employees and others in the community,” Tustin said. “And St. John’s grant is helping with fire-code compliance.
“Child care is a big issue; it will take many partners to work toward a multi-faceted solution,” Tustin added. “No one entity will solve the problem. Instead, it will take schools, existing child-care centers, businesses and others to create quality child care in our communities.”
The anonymous family wanted to support Little Panthers because the preschool could serve as a resource for recruiting teachers.
“Our children went through the Great Bend school system with great teachers,” a family member said. “Little Panthers is a definite draw for attracting teachers, which could help alleviate our current teacher shortage.”
Tricia Reiser, USD 428’s director of teaching and learning, said the school district is “grateful to this family that understands the importance of investing in young learners. Their generosity will benefit students for years to come.”
Reiser also appreciates GBCF, which is an “inspiration for donors by connecting them with community projects. We appreciate its willingness to get involved and help bring projects such as our preschool to life.
“Learning begins long before a child enters kindergarten,” she added. “A high-quality preschool experience is proven to build skills that prepare students for kindergarten and their entire educational journey.”
The $40,000 grant is being used to make repairs and improvements and furnish classrooms. The USD 428 maintenance team and outside contractors are painting classrooms, installing carpet and securing entrances and exits.
The preschool is located at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 3400 21st; the school year runs from Aug. 19 to May 25 with morning, afternoon and all-day sessions. Contact Amanda Moran-Jones, preschool coordinator, for details by calling 620-793-1501.
USD 428 staff and those living within Eisenhower Elementary School boundaries are given first priority. Capacity is 48 children, ages 3 and 4.
Jodi Fullbright, director of St. John’s CDC, also appreciates the financial support from GBCF.
“We are very grateful for the grants we have received through the Foundation,” Fullbright said. “This $5,000 grant is helping us make changes necessary to meet fire marshal’s codes. For example, we are installing a firewall, egress doors, new fire-alarm system and sidewalks with an accessible ramp.”
St. John’s offers child care for children ages 2 weeks to 12 years. It also has a preschool for 3-year-old toddlers.
A little background
When GBCF board members reviewed statistics and talked with local residents, they learned more about how the shortage of child-care spaces impacts the workforce, Tustin noted.
Statistics indicated a Barton County shortage of about 705 child-care openings; Pawnee County, 115; Rush County, 73; and Stafford County, 87.
“These facts and figures in our four-county service area really caught the board’s attention,” Tustin commented. “This is why child care is one of three new areas of focus at Golden Belt Community Foundation. The other two are mental health and economic-development philanthropy.
“Our board should be commended for seeing the big picture and finding ways to fill in the pieces,” Tustin said. “If quality child care isn’t available, parents face challenges in choosing and maintaining employment.”
At nearly $30 million in total assets and more than 180 funds under management, the Golden Belt Community Foundation has been connecting people who care to causes that matter since 1996. Golden Belt Community Foundation exists to provide non-profit organizations in central Kansas with a permanent source of support and to serve as a vehicle for charitable giving for donors. GBCF serves the counties of Barton, Pawnee, Rush, and Stafford. For more information about Golden Belt Community Foundation, call (620) 792-3000 or visit their website at www.goldenbeltcf.org.
