Read the Stories
Your support helps provide high-quality early child care and education for young children.
SOCIAL INNOVATION FUND
At Mile High United Way, we believe that building nonprofit capacity to better serve their clients is an important strategy when it comes to ensuring children enter school ready to learn.
In 2011, we received a five-year Social Innovation Fund grant from The Corporation for National and Community Service to enhance the ability of nonprofits that have a deep reach into the community, but small staff and few resources, to make a difference in the lives of children they serve.
"When I look at the impact that Mile High United Way's Social Innovation Fund has had, it has allowed us to become a stronger organization," said one partner organization.
MEET CRISTAVIN
Cristavin loves going to school at one of Metro Denver’s high-quality early childcare centers. His mom, Lala, is taking advantage of the center's classes to learn new ways to support her young son's learning. When it comes time for Cristavin to go to kindergarten, his child care center will help find the right place for him. He's one of the lucky ones. In Denver, child care is a luxury some can't afford - and others can't even find.
More than 134,000 children do not have a spot in a licensed child care center. Mile High United Way and supporters like you ensure that children have high-quality care, whether they are home or at a center. Last year, Mile High United Way invested in 41 organizations and child care sites eligible for Child Care Tax Credit funds. More than 32,000 children and their families were served by these programs; ensuring that not only are kids receiving quality education to prepare them for success in school but that families have the resources to best support young children’s growth.
Your support helps fund low-cost spots at high-quality centers, and provides parent education classes to support young learners.
MEET MARIA
Maria has two young children, Sophie and Luc, who attend “Play and Learn” at Clayton Early Learning, a program supported by Mile High United Way.
Recently, one of the teachers commented on Sophie’s ample vocabulary. “I’m so thankful for the coaches for telling, and telling us again, to talk to our kids, to insert lots of words in to their brains,” says Maria. “It feels awesome to see results - and even more awesome to see that I am not the only one who notices their language developing.”
During the classes, Sophia and Luc are reading, singing, writing, and playing “pretend.” And mom is learning how to play with her children in ways that support their learning and development. With this program, Maria can be confident that her children will enter kindergarten prepared to succeed.
As one of seven Mile High United Way Social Innovation Fund Partners, Clayton Early Learning is participating in rigorous evaluation studies to identify what works in areas like one-on-one literacy support and caregiver development, and take steps to ensure that their programs have a measureable effect on children and their families.
Note: names have been changed
