2024 Grantee Spotlight

Start Early, formerly known as The Ounce of Prevention Fund, has spent the last 40 years focused on enhancing access to high-quality early learning and care through direct service, advocacy, and policy efforts. Start Early also helped launch the Educare Learning Network, which encompasses some of the nation’s most diverse and effective early childhood schools serving under-resourced communities. The first Educare was introduced by Start Early in 2000 to serve families living in the Robert Taylor Homes (what was then one of the largest public housing developments in Chicago).

2024 Grantee Spotlight

Erikson Institute is a leading institution of higher education that prepares professionals to address the urgent challenges facing young children, their families, and communities. In 2023, Erikson launched an innovative Master of Science in Early Childhood Education (MSECE) licensure program.