55 Years of Impact
Educational Opportunities for Children and Families (EOCF) is a leading provider of Early Childhood Education and Family Resources throughout Southwest Washington, striving to connect, empower, and transform the communities they serve. In celebration of the organization’s 55th Anniversary, Give More 24! presents the incredible opportunity to reach new supporters in hopes to meet the attainable goal of $5,500 in support of the agency’s continued growth and generational impact. EOCF’s focus is to reach nearly 55,000 new community members to communicate the mission, vision, and values across the communities and areas they serve.
- $1,000 Raised | $5,500 Goal 18%
Why Fundraise?
In the form of grants and ultra-specific donations, “restricted” funding is just that – restricted to one specific use. EOCF annually applies for the ability to provide federal- or state-funded programs like Head Start, Early Head Start, or ECEAP. With permission to provide these programs, comes a restricted amount of funding pertaining to each application (or each enrolled child). On a larger scale, this can often limit the ability to reach the actual number of children and families in-need of EOCF’s services.
Where EOCF requires the most support is through “unrestricted” funding – donations like these (Give More 24!) that can be applied to a variety of uses. These types of donations provide EOCF the ability to fund the greatest needs of the agency, like:
- Enrollment: To fill the gaps in enrollment numbers where restricted funding stops.
- Classrooms & Safety: To expand and grow service areas to provide for more communities, and to prioritize the security of children and staff in the classrooms.
- Wage & Benefits: To create competitive wages within the Early Learning sector while adding value to the talented and growing education workforce.
Commitment to Growth
Not only does EOCF provide for the community’s most at-risk families, but the organization is a leading employer within Southwest Washington because of the inclusive culture and positive workplace environment. With focus on the future, EOCF staff is encouraged to grow, both personally and professionally throughout their time with the organization.
As the future leaders take their first steps within the classrooms, the current agency leaders provide a platform for emerging professionals to expand their experience with national training programs, agency-specific training, and even extra-curricular classes from local community programs. Within this, EOCF even offers Parent University for program guardians to continue their education in the Early Learning sector to one day apply to work at the agency – a streamlined effort to educate and engage the most vulnerable.
Benefitting The Programs & Services
EOCF strives to provide an equitable environment for children and families to stay educated, healthy, and growing. This is done by providing at-home services, transportation to programs, comprehensive healthcare, prenatal education, family engagement activities, and nutritional resources. Through the employment of programs like Head Start, Early Head Start, Early Childhood Education & Assistance Program (ECEAP), EOCF can approach each child and family with the information necessary for their unique progress.
Due to historical structural racism, children of color face significant barriers to success in school and in life. Recognizing this, EOCF strives to create an equitable environment for early learners, particularly for children of color and children who are non-native English speakers (44% of EOCF Families), to reach their full potential. Through this lens, evaluations are made by observation of the children and families’ greatest need, to then properly apply program assistance or resources to create an equitable environment for success.
By working directly with families and community partners, EOCF’s Health, Family, and Nutrition Services teams work together to ensure all program children have access to meals, continuous health care, and necessary treatment or preventative care. By meeting these needs, children in the program can bring their best selves to the classroom, creating a stable environment to learn. Program children receive 1/3 to 2/3 of their daily nutritional needs through the organization. With backed research and a nationally award-winning Nutritional Services team in the kitchen, classrooms are provided with varieties of snacks and meals that cater to unique needs or allergies, as well as cultural backgrounds and religions.
Catalyst For Success
EOCF serves as a catalyst for success, not only for the early learners entering K-12, but for the growing region that supports these children and families. By creating new pathways for individuals furthest from opportunity, EOCF offers the unique experience to prioritize a holistic approach to raising families that provides insights and personalized approaches every step of the way.
Especially when considering the impact of culture and economic development within the growing region, EOCF have experienced first-hand the positive influence investments in early childhood education programs, effectively reduce parity gaps and provide a long-lasting foundation to stabilize our community for the next generations of leaders.