Local Foundation Supports Scholarships for At-Risk Children

June 2, 2021 – Sarasota

Children First is proud to announce a $20,000 grant from The Jerome & Mildred Paddock Foundation in support of the agency’s comprehensive services. This includes early childhood education, nutrition, emotional and behavioral support, and family strengthening services for Sarasota County’s most vulnerable children and families.

The Paddock Foundation has provided more than $200,000 of direct support to the agency’s mission over the past 15 years. As the exclusive provider of Head Start and Early Head Start services, Children First provides high-quality programming to hundreds of children and families at 15 locations throughout North Port, Sarasota, and Venice and ranks in the top 1% out of 1,800 Head Start programs nationwide.

“90% of the human brain develops within the first five years of a child’s life, making this the most critical time for proper growth and learning. Research shows that poverty can negatively impact a child’s brain development and long-term success, but that an investment in early childhood education has improved outcomes not just for children and families, but also for the education, health, and economic productivity of an entire community,” says CEO Philip Tavill. “This support from The Paddock Foundation helps to ensure that children who live in poverty have access to a high-quality early childhood education during these crucial years and that families receive the opportunity to achieve self-sufficiency and success.”

*The Paddock Foundation has a goal to improve the lives of those less fortunate. The work of Children First continues to strengthen and honor the legacy of the Paddock Family, and with the additional demands of the global pandemic, the Foundation felt it was critical to bolster support of their mission. We extend our gratitude to the agency for their exemplary commitment to our community’s children and families,” says the Paddock Foundation Committee.

To learn more about Children First, please visit www.childrenfirst.net/60th-anniversary/.