Day Nursery Thankful Thursday

In celebration of Thanksgiving we want to recognize some generous groups in the Indianapolis community for their continuous support of our tuition assistance program.  Special thanks to the Glick Fund and the Women’s Fund of Central Indiana, both CICF Funds, for support of Day Nursery. Thanks to generous donors like these, more than 250 children in our city will have access to the highest level of early childhood education and care regardless of their parents’ ability to pay.  Happy Thanksgiving from Day Nursery Association.

Day Nursery Talks “W” – Winter Weather and Impact on Caregiving

We are excited that the Women’s Fund of Central Indiana featured Day Nursery on its website today. Click here to read a short question and answer interview with our Chief Operating Officer Marsha Hearn Lindsey.

Thankful Thursday: Day Nursery gives thanks for our generous funders

Day Nursery Director of Development Beth Rodriguez returns today with another guest blog post!
Greetings from the Day Nursery Development Department! It’s been an exciting couple of weeks with some fantastic grants coming through in support of the children and teachers! As Thanksgiving approaches, we want to make sure that these generous funders know how much we appreciate them.

First, we want to thank the Lilly Endowment for an extraordinary grant of $200,000 in support of the Tuition Assistance Program and the Staff Education and Self-Sufficiency Initiative. The Endowment has made a two-year commitment of $75,000 each year for the Staff Education and Self-Sufficiency Initiative (a total of $150,000) and $25,000 each year for Tuition Assistance (a total of $50,000).

Next, we want to extend our appreciation to the Efroymson Family Fund, a CICF Fund, for their generous grant of $50,000 in support of the Tuition Assistance Program. Over the years, the Efroymson Family has awarded $120,000 in support of Tuition Assistance and the Staff Education and Self-Sufficiency Initiative.

The good news just keeps coming!

We also want to thank The Indianapolis Foundation for their $25,000 commitment to the Tuition Assistance Program. The Indianapolis Foundation has invested generously in the sustainability of Day Nursery, and we are stronger now than ever because of their support and belief in our mission and programs.

And last, but certainly never the least, we want to thank the Women’s Fund of Central Indiana, a CICF Fund, for their continued investments in the lives of the children we serve and the teachers who care for them. This year, the Women’s Fund granted $25,000 in support of the Staff Education and Self-Sufficiency Initiative.

If you aren’t already familiar with the core programs that these generous grants are supporting, here’s a little more information:

Tuition Assistance Program: Day Nursery believes that all children, regardless of a family’s income, should have access to high-quality early care and education. Support of the Tuition Assistance Program gives families the opportunity to choose quality early care and education for their children while improving their tenuous hold on self-sufficiency. Thanks to our extraordinary and generous funders, 300 children from low-income families attended Day Nursery this year and got the best start in life.

Staff Education and Self-Sufficiency Initiative: This comprehensive professional development program provides our early education teachers with the tools and financial support they need to earn a Child Development Associate credential (CDA), an Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree in Early Education. Day Nursery employs more than 150 early education teachers in its centers and, since good teachers are the heart of Day Nursery’s excellent programs for the children in our care, it is essential to provide them with high quality educational opportunities.

If you would like to make an investment in these programs, please visit http://www.daynursery.org and donate today! If you would more information about our exciting planned giving opportunities, please contact me, Beth Rodriguez, at (317) 636-9197, ext 240.

Day Nursery donors lead the way to support children

 

Day Nursery Executive Director Carolyn Dederer (left) with event hosts David and Nancy Berst

(L to R) Donna Oklak, Chair, Day Nursery Philanthropic Leadership Team; Honoree David Hillman, Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust and Shirley Bishop, President, Day Nursery Association Board of Directors

We couldn’t have asked for more perfect weather for Friday night’s first Leading the Way donor recognition event.  Day Nursery supporters David and Nancy Berst opened their home and their beautiful garden for a reception to honor the first group of donors inducted into the Leading the Way society, a group of loyal and generous supporters. After enjoying delicious hors d’oeuvres prepared by Chef Sam Brown (a former Day Nursery parent) and his assistant, the guests gathered to listen to Day Nursery Executive Director Carolyn Dederer introduce each donor and tell a bit about their history of support of our organization.  Each honoree was presented a signed, limited edition Leading the Way print by Indianapolis illustrator Candice Hartsough McDonald. The event was underwritten by Goelzer Investment Management, Ogletree Deakins and NCB Consulting. Special thanks to Chef Sam Brown and  Bruce Westphal at the Great FrameUp for their support of the event.

Honoree Dr. Jacquelyn E. Clency, respresenting Indianapolis Public Schools

Day Nursery Board Member-elect Valerie Erb Tully, Honoree Wanda Fortune and Day Nursery Director of Development Beth Rodriguez

Honoree Debbie McGuire representing Clarian Health Partners

Honoree Ellen Annala representing United Way of Central Indiana

Honoree Gene Tanner representing Nicholas H. Noyes Jr. Memorial Foundation

Honoree Leisa Richardson, representing the Indianapolis Star Season for Sharing and the Gannett Foundation

Honoree Julie Manning Magid, Vice-chair of the Advisory Board of the Women's Fund of Central Indiana

Honoree Brian Turley of Edwards-Rigdon Construction

Honoree Joanna Nixon, Fund Manager, Efroymson Family Fund

Honorees Joan Lyday and Spencer Scott, Co-Presidents representing the Day Nursery Auxiliary

Event sponsor Greg Goelzer of Goelzer Investment Management and and our host David Berst