Large Freddie Mac Foundation Grant Helps Childcare Center Serve the Most At-Risk Alexandria Children With Free Services
08 Dezember 2004 - 4:31PM
PR Newswire (US)
Large Freddie Mac Foundation Grant Helps Childcare Center Serve the
Most At-Risk Alexandria Children With Free Services Center Started
by Public Housing Moms Expands to New Location ALEXANDRIA, Va.,
Dec. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- The Child and Family Network Centers (CFNC)
and the Freddie Mac Foundation announced the grand opening of the
newest CFNC site in the West End of Alexandria, Virginia. The site,
made possible in part by a $350,000 grant from the Freddie Mac
Foundation, offers full day, nationally accredited preschool
education and a range of social services. With the addition of this
site, CFNC now serves 172 very low-income families. "The Freddie
Mac Foundation's continued support has helped us open this West End
location, reaching more children in need. The Foundation's belief
in us has made our work possible, and we are honored to call them
our partner," said Barbara Mason, executive director, CFNC. "With
the Foundation's investment, more children will start kindergarten
ready to learn and more parents will have access to services that
prepare them to succeed in parenting, employment and life." "The
visionary mothers who created CFNC after their children failed
kindergarten have ensured that thousands of local children face
brighter futures," said Maxine B. Baker, president and CEO, Freddie
Mac Foundation. "Today, CFNC provides outstanding services to
children and families who need it most, helping children succeed
and creating lasting change in our community. We are proud to share
in their success." "The Child and Family Network Centers has a long
tradition in Alexandria of providing support and education to our
community's most underserved, the children," said Congressman Jim
Moran (D-VA). "With the Freddie Mac Foundation's support, CFNC is
helping children believe in themselves and succeed." With this most
recent Foundation grant, CFNC has expanded and now meets the needs
of 172 children, representing a 46 percent increase in children
served. This newest site at the West End of Alexandria near
Landmark Mall, ensures that 32 additional children-and eventually
up to 64-attend preschool and their families receive a range of
important services offered by the center-at no charge. The grant
will also enable CFNC add new childcare slots in South Arlington in
2006. CFNC, formerly the Alexandria Community Network Preschool, is
a community- based, nonprofit organization started in 1984 by a
group of mothers living in public housing whose children all failed
kindergarten. CFNC's six nationally accredited preschools are
located right in the neighborhoods where the families live. The
program serves young, single mothers who need support in gaining
parenting skills, as well as immigrants from Central and South
America with limited English skills. Specifically, CFNC preschools
serve neighborhoods that have the highest concentration of families
living in poverty in Alexandria. One hundred percent of CFNC
students come from homes where the family income qualifies them for
the USDA free lunch program, meaning they make less than 130
percent of the poverty level. The families served by CFNC often
reflect generations of welfare dependency. CFNC also serves
neighborhoods with the highest concentration of Latino families,
whose average per capita income is $7,306 annually. In addition to
filling a critical need for early childhood education, the center
offers speech/language therapy, psychological assessments,
occupational therapy, health care, dental, hearing and vision
screenings. Bilingual social workers provide case management;
parenting classes and other workshops; individual, group and family
counseling. Parents are also hired as classroom assistants to help
improve their parenting skills, as well as gain new career
opportunities. CFNC's Family Child Care and Job Training Programs
provide technical assistance, training, and support to low-income
women interested in careers in home childcare, elder care, and
more. The CFNC and Freddie Mac Foundation partnership spans over a
decade, with Foundation investments totaling more than $1.5
million. The Freddie Mac Foundation focuses on strengthening
families by preventing child abuse and neglect, helping find foster
children adoptive homes, and developing youth by providing funds
for non-profit organizations serving children and their families,
including CFNC. Created by Freddie Mac in 1991, the Freddie Mac
Foundation is dedicated to opening the doors to hope and
opportunity for children and their families. As the largest
corporate funder in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, Freddie
Mac and the Freddie Mac Foundation have invested nearly $217
million in organizations serving the community. DATASOURCE: Freddie
Mac Foundation CONTACT: Shawn Flaherty of Freddie Mac,
+1-703-903-4384 Web site: http://www.freddiemac.com/
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