We`re featuring Landon 2022 Award Winners in our next few posts!

To kick off, we`re featuring Alexandria Whitcomb Childcare (AWC) in Barre, VT, with its goal of teaching young children outdoor classrooms.

In the last year, AWC funded an outdoor classroom that allowed students to splash in puddles, discover bird species and work on their motor skills in a safe environment.

We encourage AWC`s mission to provide young Vermont children with an active, engaged education!

During the summer, young readers in @bgcppnj listened to @danielleirelandimhof, @passaiccountyclerk read Maddi`s Fridge by @loisbrandtauthor as the first Big Red Chair guest!

The Boys & Girls Club of Paterson & Passaic (BGCPPNJ) offers day camp for children during the summer to keep them engaged in learning. Children ages 5-6 attend the Big Red Chair program, where special guests read their favorite book, and each child takes a book copy home. This results in literacy skill-building through storytelling and an authentic connection with community members.

The Turrell Fund thanks BGCPNNJ for providing Paterson & Passaic children with the resources to keep up their love of reading and prepare them for the upcoming school year!

Check out these adorable photos from Stories on the Lawn at the Dailey Memorial Library!

The kids played Duck Duck Animal, listened to an Eric Carle book, and made animal collage crafts. Dailey Memorial Library holds Preschool Story Time every Tuesday morning, which builds the foundation for a love of learning and creativity in young children.

The Turrell Fund supports the Dailey Memorial Library`s mission to provide young children with programs that promote early childhood learning in a fun way!

In early September, Turrell Fund CFO Rich Ribeiro visited @childrensdaynj for a critical panel discussion of the importance of early childcare between CDNFC`s Executive Director Sue Dannemiller; NJ Senator @corybooker; Congressman @billpascrell; and Assemblyman @garyschaernj.

State constituents and community partners, including Turrell; @acnjforkids; Taub Foundation; Maher Charitable Fund; and others also took a tour of the center and its classrooms of engaged students.

The panel discussed that child care`s federal funding will fall over the edge of a cliff later this month as pandemic relief expires on September 30. Over 3 million children are projected to lose access to childcare nationwide, and 70 thousand childcare programs will likely close.

The Turrell Fund and community partners continue to engage and promote these continued conversations with state leadership and changemakers across New Jersey. “I’m sure we brought awareness to the powers that be about the importance of early childcare,” Rich said.

Summer isn’t over yet for these children and their families, thanks to @partnership_mch Healthy Families Passaic Program!

The Partnership for Maternal and Child Health of Northern New Jersey conducts the Healthy Families program, which pairs Family Support Workers with expectant mothers to support child development & parenting.

The Turrell Fund is happy to support the Partnership for Maternal and Child Health of Northern New Jersey and its mission to build community among families through awareness programs and special events.

Another Turrell Fund 2023 Landon Award Winner, @nekca_vt, features its Community Playgroup program and students.

Northeast Kingdom Community Action addresses poverty in the Northeast Kingdom and supports families with various programs for all age groups. Their Community Playgroups serve families and children up to age 6 with arts and crafts, music, and snacks.

The Turrell Fund congratulates the Northeast Kingdom Community Action on winning a 2023 Landon Award.

Sand and other types of sensory play are fun, educational experiences offered by @mustardseednj for its Toddler Playgroup.

The Mustard Seed School offers Reggio-inspired classes for toddlers and their caregivers, where teachers inform parents/caregivers of development opportunities. The classes ease the transition to preschool as toddlers become accustomed to classroom routines.

The Turrell Fund thanks the Mustard Seed School for promoting academic readiness for toddlers.

Nature-based learning is the highlight of West Bee Nursery School, another Turrell Fund 2023 Landon Award winners!

The West Bee Nursery School serves 3-5-year-olds and offers inquiry-based learning through play and hands-on experiences. Young learners spend at least 50 percent of their day outside in the school’s forest classroom.

The Turrell Fund congratulates the West Bee Nursery School on winning a 2023 Landon Award and serving as an experiential learning model in Vermont.

Library days are filled with fun crafts and surprises for toddlers at Magic Mountain Children’s Center, one of the Turrell Fund`s 2023 Landon Award winners!

Magic Mountain Children’s Center is a child care center in South Royalton, Vermont, serving children ages six weeks to 5 years old. The center supports children`s growth and learning in various ways, such as arts & crafts and trips to the local library!

The Turrell Fund congratulates the Magic Mountain Children’s Center as a 2023 Landon Awardee. Thank you for all you do!

Check out how these young learners prepare for kindergarten with @greaterbergen and the Head Start program!

The Greater Bergen Community Action’s Head Start program enrolls children ages 0-5 from Bergen County, Jersey City, Paterson, and Prospect Park, NJ. The program prepares families for kindergarten and beyond, focusing on cognitive and social-emotional development.

The Turrell Fund is proud to support Greater Bergen Community Action for providing NJ families and children with resources from childhood education to health, nutrition, parent education, family counseling, financial counseling, and more.

Earlier this year, Turrell Fund CFO Rich Ribeiro attended and participated as a panelist during the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers` 2023 Conference for the Social Sector: Doing Good Better.

Rich presented on the importance of financial statements and returns and how both nonprofits & philanthropy interpret these numbers. Through these presentations, trust is built between philanthropic & nonprofit partnerships regarding reporting & application processes.

Turrell clients can always contact Rich for help understanding 990s, financials, and other official documentation!

“Prouty Pickle Day” with @winston.prouty.center engages children & families in a fun and educational project! Children in the early learning center grow cucumbers with teachers & staff who source the ingredients and supplies from the community.

The Winston Prouty Center for Child and Family Development in Brattleboro, VT serves children ages six weeks through age 5. They provide child care as well as education and family engagement.

The Turrell Fund thanks the Winston Prouty Center for their continued, above-and-beyond service to children and families in Vermont!

Students in the @childrensdaynj Summer Program have fun in and out of the classroom!

Children`s Day Preschool and Family Center (CDP) provides high-quality education for children ages 2.5-5. Their programs establish a strong foundation for young students to succeed in school and life.

Thank you to CDP and your holistic model of care for early childhood education!

Students at this year`s @pushcart_players Theater Camp worked on a production of "The Little Mermaid"!

Pushcart Players provides young people and their families access to musical theater, workshops, educational programs and residencies.

The Turrell Fund is proud to support Pushcart Players` mission of giving young learners confidence on and off stage.

Last week, the @njsymphony held a free summer concert featuring the Music of Bollywood and a pre-concert happy hour with the Young Professionals Committee.

The Music of Bollywood concert featured guest artists and original works for a string quartet by beloved Bollywood composer Pyarelal Sharma.

The New Jersey Symphony (NJS) joins diverse communities through live music and performances, providing educational and entertaining programming for New Jersey families.