You Can Make It Possible!

Excitement is in the air as we gear up for this year's Day of Impact, happening on Friday, Sept. 22. Our mission? To provide a year's worth of educational supplies to our 13 early learning centers. From tiny stickers to vibrant paint, these seemingly small educational supplies make big learning moments possible. You can be a part of this incredible mission by donating, volunteering, shopping a center’s Amazon wish list or championing sponsorships from your business and corporate connections. Learn more by clicking the button below or by reaching out to Director of Development, Kirsten Yeager.

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FORVIS' Day of Service

We had the privilege of hosting two groups from FORVIS – one of the nation's top 10 public accounting firms – during their service day. At our statewide office, the FORVIS teams assembled 150 family kits, each thoughtfully curated to include safety-themed books and essential items. They also created 465 infant and toddler reading bags for children at Indianapolis Day Early Learning centers and two additional Early Head Start programs. A second group of volunteers added to our outdoor beautification efforts at Day Early Learning Lilly Family Center. They created a second music wall – which the children are already enjoying – painted a tricycle track and helped to spread new mulch. Do you know a group that might be interested in volunteering with us? Reach out to Vice President of Community Outreach and Engagement, Natalie Brake.

Empowering Educators

On August 5, we kicked off our PNC Grow Up Great Teacher Recognition Initiative powered by Early Learning Indiana at our Day Early Learning Park 100 location. Guest speaker Dr. Lori Desautels gave an inspiring presentation about 'Growing the Brain.' Attendees gained knowledge, learned from and connected with local and statewide peers and were invited to participate in a one-of-a-kind sneaker art bar as a fun camaraderie-building activity. This series helps to show appreciation to early learning professionals while also allowing them to earn professional development hours and network with colleagues in the industry. We are grateful to PNC for making this initiative possible and for their continued investment in Indiana's youngest children and early childhood education professionals. We look forward to the remaining four sessions. Learn more about the series here.

Focus on Hendricks County

Hendricks County knows how vital it is to remain informed of trends and ever-changing information surrounding the child care world. Because of their desire to stay updated, Chief Engagement Officer Heather Pease presented, alongside Mollie Smith from Child Care Answers, on the state of early learning in Indiana and Hendricks County. The two shared data and trends around child care access, quality and affordability, economic impact, the role of government and employers as well as opportunities both for local employers and the community. To have ELI participate in an upcoming event, please reach out to Community Outreach and Engagement Manager Marienid Gonzalez-Melendez.

A Family Affair

Early Learning Indiana was thrilled to host our first-ever Early Head Start (EHS) Family Fair on August 26. The fair included an array of resources aimed at empowering our EHS families to maintain their health. This included on-site dental care, height, weight, hearing and vision screens, as well as on-site physicals and immunizations. The fair also included yoga, face painting and bunnies. This year's event marked the beginning of a promising tradition, with plans to expand and include more families and a variety of vendors in the years ahead. Interested in participating in events like this? Email Emily Jarboe, Director of Health and Safety.