Day Nursery Indianapolis names new President & CEO

Ted Maple, Ph.D.

Indianapolis – The  board of directors of Day Nursery Association of Indianapolis, Inc. is pleased to announce the appointment of Ted Maple, Ph.D. as the President and CEO. He will succeed Carolyn M. Dederer who will retire August 2 after 15 years with the organization.

Maple comes to Day Nursery from United Way of Central Indiana where he led United Way’s education priority with a focus on early childhood and school-age initiatives.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Indianapolis, a master’s degree in Elementary Education from Butler University and his Ph.D., in, Early Childhood Education from Ball State University.

Carolyn Dederer welcomed Dr. Ted Maple to his new office at Day Nursery this morning. They will work together for three weeks until Carolyn officially retires on August 2.

He began his career in education as a kindergarten and first grade teacher in Pike Township. Following his time in the public schools, he served as Director of the Early Childhood Program at St. Mary’s Child Center where he led the nationally-accredited early childhood program for 200 at-risk preschoolers at two locations in Indianapolis. In 2005, Maple’s career in early childhood took a different turn, when he was selected as United Way’s Director of Success By 6. In this role, over more than eight years, he crafted United Way’s early childhood agenda that included programs, policy advocacy and community engagement. In 2012, he was promoted to Director of Education to oversee United Way’s two education priorities: children entering school ready to learn, and performing on grade level by sixth grade.

He lives with his wife and three children on the northeast side of Indianapolis.

ABOUT DAY NURSERY:
Day Nursery Association is the oldest and largest non-profit provider of early care and education in central Indiana. Founded in 1899, the agency has been educating the youngest children of Indianapolis for over 100 years. Serving more than 1,350 children annually ages six weeks to six years old in 7 locations in Marion and Hendricks County, Day Nursery believes that all children, regardless of a family’s income, should have access to the highest quality of care. Day Nursery is a United Way agency.

Day Nursery Indiana State Center preschoolers kick off United Way campaign

Preschoolers from the Day Nursery Indiana State Government Center led by teacher Tim Tegarden, helped announce the campaign goal at the United Way of Central Indiana kickoff today on Monument Circle.

United Way of Central Indiana (UWCI) volunteer leaders announced a goal to take last year’s record $40.6 million total even higher to $40.8 million to carry out its mission: helping people learn more, earn more and lead safe and healthy lives.  Preschool students from Day Nursery Early Care and Educuation Center in the Indiana State Government Center helped reveal the goal during the  program.

For the third year, United Way kicked off its fundraising season along with the Colts football season at a celebration on Monument Circle. So far, early pledges amount to more than $8.2 million or 20 percent of goal.

In addition to a financial goal, United Way is on track to recruit 1,400 ReadUP tutors, having reached 46 percent of that target so far.

Banking and investments executive Steve Schenck and local artist and philanthropist Marianne Glick are co-chairing United Way’s annual campaign. Their message calls on people to be super heroes by giving to create opportunities for a better life through Education, Income, Health and Basic Needs resources.

Ellen K. Annala, United Way’s president and CEO, said United Way invites people to act so they can be part of the change instead of focusing on discouraging economic indicators.

“United Way invites everyone to live united — give, volunteer, and advocate,” said Annala. “Give through your work or on your own. Volunteer to read at a child care center, tutor early elementary students, or mentor an at-risk child. Advocate for causes that improve the lives of families and children by getting involved with your children’s school, encouraging everyone to vote, supporting better mass transit so people can get to needed jobs, and much more.”

Jimmy Matis and Blue from the Colts

This year, the Indianapolis Colts will make a donation to United Way for every ticket purchased through United Way of Central Indiana to the home opener versus the Vikings on September 16, the Colts vs. Jaguars September 23, Colts vs. Browns on October 21, Colts vs. Bills on November 25, Colts vs. Titans on December 9, and Colts vs. Texans, December 30. Visit UWCI.org for details.

Returning incentives in the 2012 campaign include the Give Gleefully  video contest and a loyalty program called Caring Club that provides discounts at national and local businesses for people who give at least $150.

At the free community kickoff featuring a volunteer fair, live music, Colts Cheerleaders and free Colts posters, the Colts announced they are returning a third year with a chance to win a pair of Super Bowl tickets in a drawing for anyone who gives a new gift or increase of $150 to United Way of Central Indiana.

Today’s BIG KICKOFF punctuates a series of events promoting the LIVE UNITED season to encourage Giving, Advocating and Volunteering. In late August, more than 1,800 volunteers tackled 89 projects at schools, United Way agencies and child care centers in Central Indiana as part of United Way’s Day of Caring. Similar campaign goal announcements and kickoff celebrations have been happening in Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks and Morgan counties.

On Tuesday, (Sept. 4), local television stations each aired stories about how United Way and its agencies are helping create lasting change in people’s lives and in the community. Visit www.youtube.com/uwci to see the stories.

United Way of Central Indiana helps people learn more, earn more and lead safe and healthy lives. United Way gets things done by mobilizing people and community partners in six Central Indiana counties to identify, advance and advocate the best solutions. LIVE UNITED is a call to action for everyone to be part of the change. Visit uwci.org to learn more.

It was steamy hot on the Circle but the preschoolers were good sports when we lined them up to practice before they went on stage.

Day Nursery Indy participates in United Way Event

Day Nursery senior management team at Thursday’s United Way of Central Indiana READ.TUTOR.MENTOR event on Monument Circle

Day Nursery funders give support to program upgrades and tuition assistance

Today’s guest post is from Sarah Ferguson, Day Nursery Director of Development

Greetings from the Day Nursery Development department! Spring is here! We want to take this time to appreciate the generosity of our supporters.

First, we want to thank the Efroymson Family Fund, a CICF Fund, for their generous support in awarding a $45,000 grant for the Tuition Assistance Program, which currently supports more than 150 families annually.

Next, we would like to extend our appreciation to the Lilly Endowment for supporting the transformation of our Ruth A. Lilly Center’s outside playground area into the Reggio Emilia model. The Endowment made a $25,000 commitment to this project.

We would also like to thank the United Way of Central Indiana and all of the many donors who have contributed to the annual campaign. Your generosity allows us to continue our mission of assuring excellent early care and education of young children in central Indiana.

Day Nursery students pick GREEN as the color of the day

Federal Center

Federal Center

Sunny skies and warm weather has everyone in a good mood around Indy today.  Oh, and the fact that it is Friday didn’t hurt either.  Day Nursery joined with other United Way of Central Indiana agencies to walk for the second year together in the Indianapolis St. Patrick’s Day parade over the lunch hour and our Federal Center students were in their usual perch at the starting point of the parade on Pennsylvania at North Street to take it all in.  Sarah Parks, Federal Center Director said once again, the fan favorite was the Firetrucks, a close second by the bagpipes and the marching bands, as well as the leprechaun.  The children enjoyed dancing to the music, waving at the people, wearing their green gear, and of course the beautiful sunny weather to watch the parade Ms. Kesha points to things for her Preschool 1 children to notice, like the big #5 on the Firetruck.  Ms. Grundytook her class to the spot where she thought they had the best view of everything going on…and you can see, only 1 of them could take their eyes off the parade long enough to pose for a picture.

Our parade team

Elsewhere in our other centers, children made crafts, danced to Irish songs and had special all-green snacks.  Here’s a look a fun from our other centers.

State Center

State Center

State Center

State Center

Ruth A. Lilly Center

Northwest Center

Northwest Center

Day Nursery Federal Center teachers, students and families Live United

Today’s post comes from Sarah Parks, Center Director at the Day Nursery Federal Center located in downtown Indianapolis  in the Minton Capehart Federal Building, 575 N. Pennsylvania Street. 

As many of you already know, Day Nursery is a United Way agency.  Each year the United Way allocates funds to Day Nursery which are used in a variety of ways, one of which is to provide tuition assistance scholarships to those who might not otherwise be able to attend an accredited early learning facility.  As a United Way Agency, we also participate in their annual campaign to help raise funds that the United Way will turn around and use in our community, wherever the need is greatest.  In the past few years we have been trying to bring the concept of giving and sharing with those in need to the children in our centers as well.  In years past we have read the book Benny’s Pennies and done different activities to raise money for the campaign such as bake sales and art sales.  This year we are reading the books The Doorbell Rang and The Little Red Hen to promote sharing and giving.  Our classrooms will also be doing additional activities around these themes and books. 

 In my center, our Toddler 2 classroom is hosting an Art and Craft Fair today and our parents are invited to purchase child made arts and crafts in their classroom.  All proceeds will go to the United Way of Central Indiana campaign.  Ms. Jennifer and Miss Belinda have done a great job with this project.

We are also hosting a center-wide school dance next Thursday October 27 from 4 to 5.  Parents may buy tickets to attend with the children, for any size donation to the United Way campaign.  Join us for an hour of dancing, refreshments and games…all for a good cause!  Children may bring fancy dress up or dance clothes to wear to the dance if you would like.  Again, all proceeds will go to the United Way campaign.   

Finally our classrooms have worked together to create a Giving Tree—paintings of children’s arms & hands serve as branches, and any “green” that anyone would like to add to the tree for leaves will also go to the United Way of Central Indiana.   

At the Day Nursery Federal Center, we are proud to Live United.

Thanks for your support in helping teach our children about the importance of helping others, and sharing what we have.

The wearing of the green

Day Nursery hosted staff members from several United Way of Central Indiana agencies yesterday as the group prepared handouts for tomorrow’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade in downtown Indianapolis.  This is the first year the UWCI agencies have bonded together to create a parade entry.  The parade entry theme is United Way of Central Indiana agencies are the community’s life savers.  Thanks to Rebecca, Chelsea and Tiffany from the Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic; Sharon from St. Mary’s Child Care Center; Gina of Mental Health America of Greater Indianapolis, Ryan from the Crossroads of America Council of Boy Scouts of America; Anne Marie of INRC who joined Day Nursery CEO Carolyn Dederer and Chief Operations Officer Marsha Lindsey in preparing thousands of life savers to hand out along the parade route tomorrow.  Hope to see you there.  The parade starts at 11:30.  Here’s the downtown parade route.

Holiday greetings from Day Nursery Executive Director

Dear Friends,
The holiday season has been a very active one here at Day Nursery Indianapolis!  Santa has pulled out all the stops at the centers—even coming back twice on Saturday, the 11^th and the 18^th, for Breakfast with Santa Family Events at our Clarian and Northwest centers for about 100 parents and children.  Crafts, food, lots of fun time spent together—and don’t forget photos with Santa—all added up to a great time as well as dollars raised for our Tuition Assistance Scholarship Program (TAP).  We think this event might just have to become a Day Nursery tradition!

Additionally, we reached out to our families who need a little help providing Christmas memories for their little ones.  It has been our tradition to participate in United Christmas Service, an assistance program managed by United Way of Central Indiana, as well as Christmas Benevolence, an assistance program run by Second Presbyterian Church.  Eighteen of our voucher families got help from United Christmas Service and nineteen from Second Church.  This year, we traded in our management staff gift exchange and selected stockings from our Christmas tree, labeled with 37 of our Tuition Assistance children’s names.  In all these ways combined, we saw to it that over 100 Day Nursery children and families had a brighter celebration.

We also ran a pilot “Family Meals to Go” Program at two of our centers during the holiday season to see if sending home a healthy meal for our families’ evening meal might be valuable to them both in time saving, better eating, and reduced stress.  The side benefit is to develop a new revenue stream to support our Tuition Assistance Program.  A participant survey is coming right after New Year’s which will help us determine next steps.

From all of us at Day Nursery, a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all of you and yours!!  I have to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your incredible support and leadership this past year, as we could not do what we do without you!  I look forward to a wonderful 2012 for our children and families, as well as for you and yours.

Best,

Carolyn Dederer, Executive Director

Day Nursery Association of Indianapolis

Day Nursery staff members dig deep to support United Way

Today our post is from Beth Rodriguez, Day Nursery Director of Development.  In addition to all the grant writing and fundraising she does year-round for Day Nursery, during the fall of each year she takes on the HUGE additional duty of being the chair on our employee in-house United Way campaign.   I wanted thank Beth for this exceptional effort and to share with you today, a portion of an email she sent out to the staff congratulating everyone for our very successful campaign.

I have exciting news!!! The final results of the 2010 Day Nursery Employee United Way Campaign are in, and it’s awesome!

Total Raised: $17,175

Total Participation: 95%

We totally blew our goal out of the water and increased our average gift to nearly $100!!! We also raised more money than we ever have in any previous United Way Campaign.

This was only possible because of the AMAZING Campaign Ambassadors:

Glynn Allen, Miriam Eversole, Kennette Farthing, Toni Hayward, Caroline King, Vanessa Price, and Susan Ross

Please give them a round of applause!!!!! They will receive special recognition at lunch on the 18th.

The Center Directors also deserve a round of applause too for their hard work and leadership!

The numbers also reflect the money raised at great special activities and events that many of the centers held in celebration of the campaign. Federal held a bake sale, an art sale and collected pennies in their classrooms; Northwest debuted a theatrical production of Benny’s Pennies for parents; and Fort engaged children and parents in collecting pennies- all for the benefit of the United Way. Ms. Patty Fisher and I are working with Center Directors to plan some special ice cream parties for these classes (and centers) that really went above and beyond.

Congratulations to the 100% Participation Club: Clarian, Administration Office, Federal, Fort Harrison, Northwest and Lilly.

And, Congratulations to Northwest who had the highest percentage increase in giving. You are the proud new owners of the Traveling Trophy! (I know Lilly is so sad to see it go!) I’m sure they will decorate it for you, and then I’ll get it delivered to you ASAP with your name on it!

I’m so proud of how hard everyone worked on this campaign. You are all the best! Congratulations!

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