Just 90 days after Cincinnati Early Learning Centers and Children, Inc., merged to form Learning Grove, COVID-19 swept through our country and changed how they serve children and families in our community.
Photograph courtesy of Learning Grove
A longstanding partner of United Way Success By 6, Learning Grove had to promptly close several childcare centers, cancel college and career readiness programs and home visitation appointments and modify their support network for childcare providers.
The support of the COVID-19 Regional Response Fund, activated by United Way of Greater Cincinnati and Greater Cincinnati Foundation, allowed them to transition all of those programs into virtual experiences.
Learning Grove also opened two childcare facilities for emergency personnel in response to the pandemic. Following the guidelines of the CDC and government officials, they have continued to provide affordable, high-quality education with low student-to-teacher ratios.
“Financial support from the fund has been instrumental in helping Learning Grove operate two emergency response childcare sites in Ohio and Kentucky for our community’s health care workers and other essential employees during the pandemic,” says Learning Grove Vice President of Advancement Helen Mattheis. “Those funds have also allowed us to distribute critical supplies to families including emergency food, diapers, health and hygiene items and educational materials through our outreach services. We are deeply grateful for this support to help our families during this time.”
The rapid-response fund has distributed more than $4.6 million into the community and will continue to support relief and recovery efforts for those who are most disproportionately affected by—and most vulnerable to—the health, economic, education, housing, and social impacts of the crisis.
In response to the rapidly evolving coronavirus pandemic, Greater Cincinnati Foundation and United Way of Greater Cincinnati have activated the cross-sector COVID-19 Regional Response Fund to quickly address the critical needs of our community. To learn more about the organizations impacted by this fund, visit www.covid19regionalfund.org/impact.
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