Early Childhood Equity Stewardship Fund
The Early Childhood Equity Stewardship Fund was established to ensure that all children succeed. Your generous donation helps build a community where all children can flourish.
We are at a time in our nation, and in our community, where people understand the importance of quality early childhood experiences and we need to put our money where our hearts are, and where our children need it.” – Francine Rodd, Executive Director, First 5 Monterey County
When our children succeed, our community thrives.
Research shows that 90% of a child’s brain development occurs in the first five years of life. Early experiences and relationships build the foundation for future learning, good health, and life success. When our children 0-5 have this strong base for learning and growth, everyone in our community benefits.
Many children and families in our community do not have access to the critical building blocks of a healthy foundation. Disparities in our community impact who benefits from services such as high quality prenatal care, child care, and early childhood education.
About the Fund
The Early Childhood Equity Stewardship Fund ensures that children of all races and socio-economic status flourish. The Fund provides critical funding to First 5 Monterey County and its partners to:
- Prepare children 0-5 start school ready to learn;
- Support parents with additional skills and resources to promote their children’s growth and development; and
- Provide providers and systems leaders with the training and experiences they need to center diversity and equity in all that they do.
When you donate to The Early Childhood Equity Stewardship Fund, you have a hand in ensuring that our children have a great start in life and that their families thrive.
Impact
Your gift supports programs like the First 5 Monterey County Infant Family Early Childhood Mental Health Training Series. Through the training we provide racially and culturally responsive workshops to a variety of providers in many sectors (legal/judicial, public health, social services, and early childhood education). Trainings include how to foster resilience and mitigate trauma with children and families. Award-winning trainers provide sessions in English and Spanish. Completion of the training allows participants to be recognized by the state with official endorsements. Support for these services meets critical needs.
Good mental health is not the absence of trauma or the absence of hardship, but the capacity to make sense of it. That foundation being laid for those very young children and babies and families is critical.” – Relindis Diaz, Infant Family Early Childhood Mental Health Training participant and Monterey County Behavioral Health Services Manager II
Watch the video below from the 2020 First 5 Monterey County Monterey County Gives! Campaign.
Support the Fund
- Donate directly and securely online
- Send checks made payable to “Community Foundation for Monterey County” with “Early Childhood Equity Stewardship Fund” in the memo line
Mail to: 2354 Garden Road, Monterey, CA 93940
- Make a gift of stock or other assets. Contact Christine Dawson CFMC Vice President Philanthropic Services at 831.375.9712 x126.
Donations to the Early Childhood Equity Stewardship Fund of the Community Foundation for Monterey County (CFMC) are tax deductible. The CFMC is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, tax ID #94-1615897.