Main Street Child Development Center
WISH LIST: $100: a new book for 20 rising kindergartners; $500; rental of 2 school buses to take families on a field trip; $1000: 1 month's tuition while a parent is on job search; $10,000: an entire year's tuition for a child in need (high risk, low income, and often with special needs)
Founded in Fairfax in 1973, Main Street Child Development Center takes care of the whole family. One of the few surviving nonprofit childcare centers in the area, it provides high quality, affordable care and early childhood education to families from limited-income, working households--many of whom are among Fairfax County's working poor. One hundred 2 to 5 year olds a year work with expert staff who encourage reading (books are provided), creativity (a new partnership with Wolf Trap brings arts programming to the children), and relationship building (with the multicultural staff, classmates, and with elderly folks in the adjoining Senior Center). Children get immunizations, dental care, screening for vision, hearing, and language delays, along with glasses and speech-language therapy if these are needed. Services for parents include language and computer literacy (both improve marketability in the workplace). Last year 61 of the 72 children entering Main Street’s program at 2.5 years of age started kindergarten with stronger English language ability and greater school readiness. Winner of Fairfax County's Human Rights Award, and the National Academy of Early Childhood Programs' highest accreditation, many of its clients say that Main Street is the only secure haven in their lives. Main Street is here to stay ... with your help, please.
 |
 |
   |
|
Elizabeth Egan Executive Director |
|
 |
|
