Early Learning Coalition

Last year I joined the board of directors of the Early Learning Coalition of Sarasota County. ELCs are nonprofit organizations that administer federal, state, and local funds to support early education programs for preschool age children. Our mission is to provide access to the highest quality early education resources and family support to ensure that children are ready for learning and ready for life.

If you were the parent of a preschool age child sometime in the last decade, then you may be aware of the Volunteer Pre-Kindergarten program, or VPK, which helps pay for child care services. VPK is just one of the many programs the ELC manages. Now in it’s tenth year, VPK has served more than 20,000 children in Sarasota County.

Members of my Kiwanis club support another program called Literacy Buddies. Sponsors are paired with children to buy books during the school year to promote early literacy.

During our strategic planning, one of the goals we set for 2016 is to increase private funding for the organization to offset fluctuations in public funding and to provide more resources for the children in our community. I am the chair of the communications committee, and we are organizing a miniature golf tournament in April at Evie’s on Bee Ridge Road.

Please let me know if you are interested in participating, sponsoring, or donating to help raise money for the Early Learning Coalition of Sarasota County. With your help the ELC can help more kids learn to read and prepare for success in school.

Until next week,

Matthew Anderson, President
Milestone Marketing Associates, Inc.