Pennsylvania's Promise for Children around the Commonwealth
Check back regularly for new stories on how Pennsylvania's Promise for Children is being fulfilled around the Commonwealth.
Governor Keynote at PA’s Promise for Children Luncheon (posted 8/24/07)
On August 21, Governor Rendell was the keynote speaker at the “Pennsylvania’s Promise for Children” luncheon hosted by the Greater Susquehanna Valley United Way, Penn State Cooperative Extension in Union County, and Northumberland, Union & Snyder Early Childhood Community Engagement Groups. Approximately 150 business and education leaders attended the event.
The purpose of the luncheon was to engage business leaders to support public investment in quality early education. At each table was an “ambassador” who is involved in early education to be able to answer questions and help make the case for quality early learning.
The Governor focused on how quality early learning opportunities are a necessary economic strategy if Pennsylvania and the country expect to compete globally. He noted, for example, that in 2005, the United States, which routinely leads the world in engineers graduated from four-year colleges and universities, was not only passed by China, but the Asian nation graduated almost three times as many engineers,
“Let me submit to you that if we don’t do something as a nation to change those trend lines, we will be, well before any of your children or grandchildren are ready for retirement or social security, a second- or third-rate economic power,” the governor said, “because the currency of today is skilled and knowledgeable workers.”
Other speakers during the event included Harriet Dichter, deputy secretary of the Office of Child Development & Early Learning; Karen Woland Payne, director of Penn College’s Children’s Learning Center, followed by Bruce Clash, state director of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Pennsylvania.
For more information, contact Mary Mahoney-Ferster at mmm46@ag.psu.edu.
SWB Yankees Go to Bat for Early Learning (posted 6/15/07)
Early Childhood Night with the SWB Yankees, held June 2nd at PNC Field in Moosic, PA, endorsed Pennsylvania’s early childhood education initiatives to over 10,000 baseball fans. The successful event was a collaboration of the Early Care and Education Coalition of Pike County, Pocono Healthy Communities Alliance, Wayne County Children's Coalition, Susquehanna County CARES, Lackawanna County United Way Success by Six and the Success by Six United Way of Wyoming Valley. At the Parade to the Future registration table, CEGs talked to families about PA Pre-K Counts, Keystone STARS and Child Care Works gathering dozens of signatures to be presented to our legislators supporting these initiatives. Thirty-six children participated in the pre-game Parade to the Future around the field, representing 18 various careers with potential annual earnings of nearly $2 million collectively. Joining the CEGs were a number of legislators, school administrators, and early childhood advocates from NE PA. Children and families from more than 20 different schools and early learning programs were also in attendance and enjoyed a winning game for the Yanks. The NE 6 CEGs are looking forward to an expanded repeat of this event for next year. For more information, contact Dana Wojciechowski at danaclrc@yahoo.com.
Pitch for Pennsylvania's Children (posted 3/9/07)
Thanks to the work of the Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties’ community engagement groups, the Philadelphia Phillies will be having a business persons’ special in honor of quality early learning and Pennsylvania’s Promise for Children on April 26, 2007.
Child care staff, families with young children and the business community supporting early childhood education efforts will be able to purchase discounted tickets to this game and additional games throughout the season. The Phillies will broadcast a Public Service Announcement by Deputy Secretary of the Office of Child Development and Early Learning Harriet Dichter and children at the Margaret George School reminding everyone of the value of quality early learning to our young children. The Governor has also been invited to throw out the first pitch!
This is a remarkable opportunity to reach thousands to educate and reinforce that quality early learning matters. If people are interested in attending or receiving order forms to purchase discount tickets contact Erin Connolly at econnolly@melc.org.
Contact Information
For more information, contact
Kelly Swanson
Communications and Public Policy Director
Pennsylvania Early Learning Keys to Quality
301 Market Street, 8th Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17101
(717) 213-2074
email: kelswa@berksiu.org
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