Start Early

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). Since then, a network of 25+ schools have opened across the country, serving children and families who may not otherwise be able to access early learning programming. Since Lake County is an early childhood education desert, Schreiber Philanthropy and Start Early started exploring the feasibility of bringing an Educare to Lake County. In 2023, the Schreiber family made an anchor investment to help launch the 27th Educare in the country, and only the 2nd that’s managed directly by Start Early, in Lake County. Educare will be a critical resource for Lake County, serving more than 170 children and families from communities like Zion, Waukegan, North Chicago, and Beach Park. Interim programming has already begun in Waukegan and Beach Park, and a permanent site is on track to open in Zion in 2025/2026. The investment also supports Start Early’s broader work in Illinois, as well as the National Educare Network, which is focused on learning what leads to strong student outcomes in order to inform federal and state policy changes.