Early Childhood Education Initiative Grants
The following press release was sent to local media on April 12, 2006

With a five-year, $1.25 million commitment, Aspen Community Foundation launched the Early Childhood Education Initiative (ECEI) in July 2003 to address quality and accessibility issues in early education programs. 

Studies consistently illustrate that stimulating cognitive and language development in the formative years prepares children not only for kindergarten but for overall socio-emotional and intellectual success in their future.  The ECEI is meeting critical needs in local early education by providing grants to support staff retention, professional development for staff, financial aid for families, and overall quality in preschool programs.
At the onset of developing the ECEI, the Community Foundation identified Kids First Aspen, a childcare resource center, as a valuable information network and key partner. Funding for Kids First Aspen is provided through the City of Aspen Real Estate Transfer Tax. However, downvalley municipalities do not have similar tax codes, and have no immediate plans to establish them. Aspen Community Foundation grants $120,000 each year to Kids First Aspen for the creation and ongoing operation of a downvalley Kids First office located in Glenwood Springs. The remaining $130,000 per year is granted to nonprofit early childhood programs that have submitted proposals based on Initiative guidelines.
   
To date, the ECEI has granted a total of $619,953. The following nonprofit preschool programs received grants during this year’s ECEI grant cycle:

•  Aspen School District Preschool (Aspen)   
•  Blue Lake Preschool (El Jebel)
•  Campus Kids (Carbondale)
•  Children’s Mini College (Glenwood Springs)
•  Children’s Rocky Mountain School (Carbondale)
•  Early Childhood Center (Woody Creek)
•  Early Learning Center (Aspen)
•  Even Start (Rifle)
•  Growing Years School (Basalt)
•  Little Red Schoolhouse (Snowmass Village)
•  Mount Sopris Montessori School (Carbondale)
•  Our School (Glenwood Springs)
•  Raising a Reader
•  Roaring Fork Kids (Aspen)
•  Waldorf School (Carbondale)
•  Wildwood School (Aspen)

     
Aspen Community Foundation visualizes its role beyond grantmaker, towards a nexus for shared knowledge. Having identified strong leadership as the key factor to an organization’s success, Aspen Community Foundation looks forward to ongoing achievement with the Early Childhood Education Initiative, Kids First and, most importantly, with the children, families, and educators that comprise the local preschool community.

For more information, please contact Aspen Community Foundation, 110 East Hallam Street, Suite 126, Aspen, info@aspencommunityfoundation.org, 970/925-9300.