As 2023 winds down, I’m reflecting on the past year, the awe-inspiring work Child Care Aware® of America (CCAoA) has done and my gratitude to serve on the Board of Directors and share in this work. It is this community that makes our work to promote children's healthy development and learning through quality and accessible child care possible.
The future of our nation’s economic growth and well-being depends in part on the marvelous opportunities that access to quality child care affords families. I became a CCAoA Board member in part to celebrate and support our nation’s essential child care workforce. I owe my own academic and professional achievements and economic mobility to my Head Start teachers – Ramona and Yolanda – who created a safe, warm, enriching environment where I could thrive. Their support helped me overcome the upheaval and financial insecurity my family and I faced as new immigrants living in this country by creating a place where I didn’t feel poor or devalued. Every child should be entitled to the sort of quality early childhood experiences and support I received. Though our nation’s child care infrastructure is in crisis, I remain hopeful because of the work this organization does to help so many families – civilian and military alike – find the resources and support they need to thrive.
This past year CCAoA assisted families with child care support, helped advocates send their policymakers over 10,000 messages, and provided capacity building and professional development training assistance to early childhood professionals. This #GivingTuesday, I reflect on the work we have accomplished, and I am looking forward to the work we have in store for the new year. #GivingTuesday is an opportunity to appreciate and support CCAoA’s efforts to build an equitable and accessible child care system. Our work makes this future feel possible and even attainable. As we continue advocating for the future of child care, I am honored to be a part of an organization that strives to create substantial change within our communities. With help from donors like you, we can work together to create a brighter future for all children. The “Power of Unleashed Generosity” that is the theme of #GivingTuesday results in a high level of community involvement that is beneficial to all.
When you choose to donate to CCAoA, you are supporting an organization that focuses on a brighter tomorrow and is taking the necessary steps to make that future a reality. I hope you join me this #GivingTuesday to support the work we are all so proud of and be a part of the change that our education system so desperately needs. We feel the impact of every investment, which translates directly to the passion with which we run our programs.