Here at United Way for Greater Austin, we believe that every child deserves a strong foundation for success. That’s why we run programs like Pre-K Partnerships with Austin ISD.
Through this partnership, we work with child care centers across Greater Austin to expand access to high-quality, full-day pre-K for children ages 3 and 4. Success in life begins with a quality education, but less than 50% of children in Travis County are ready for Kindergarten. Our youngest years are the most active period for brain development, a crucial time to lay a firm foundation for all future growth. That’s why this partnership ensures children get a strong start in life and are ready to succeed in Kindergarten and beyond.
We currently partner with 13 child development centers that are 3- and 4-star Texas Rising Star certified, to deliver high-quality pre-K and provide those centers with resources to help improve and sustain quality services for children. One of those child care centers is Angels Care and Learning Center.
Angels Care and Learning Center is a 4-Star Texas Rising Star certified center opened by Navy veteran Chuck Cohn in 2017. A bilingual center that serves children from varied socio-economic backgrounds in South Austin, they joined the Pre-K Partnerships program at the beginning of 2020.
As part of the program, Angels Care and Learning Center received funding which allowed them to hire an additional teacher with higher qualifications. However, Chuck quickly realized that partnering with United Way with more than just financial support.
“It was so much more than just the dollar and cents. It was more of the intangibles that United Way brings to the table and connects us with.” – Chuck Cohn
There’s no clearer example of this than the story of how United Way staff members jumped into action to ensure that Austin families with young children had access to clean water after Winter Storm Uri struck, leaving thousands of Austinites without power, heat, and water.
We delivered 720 gallons of fresh water to seven of our partner child care centers for families who didn’t have access to clean water, including Angels Care and Learning Center.
“United Way hooked us up with Friends and Allies Brewing, and they gave us about 10 kegs filled with distilled water…and our families were able to come here whenever they needed.”
– Chuck Cohn
This is just one of many examples of the deep partnership between United Way and our partner centers that is making a real difference for local children and families. And you can make more of them happen!
When you make a donation to United Way for Greater Austin this holiday season, you are helping us continue to ensure that every child has a strong foundation for success. We believe you can make a difference. Believe with us and donate today!