Organization: A STEPPING STONE FOUNDATION
Mission: TO PROVIDE STEPPING STONES FOR SUCCESS THROUGH EDUCATION OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WHO HAVE LIMITED OPPORTUNITIES.
Activities: OUR FLAGSHIP PROGRAM, LEAF (LITERACY ELEVATES ARIZONA FAMILIES) PROVIDED EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND WHOLE FAMILY LITERACY TO DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS, WHOSE ABSENCE OF ENGLISH LITERACY PUT THEIR CHILDREN AT RISK OF SCHOOL FAILURE AND REDUCED LIFE CHOICES. WHILE CHILDREN ATTENDED 64 OR MORE HOURS PER MONTH OF TUITION-FREE LITERACY-BASED PRESCHOOL CLASSES, PARENTS SPENT 32 HOURS OR MORE PER MONTH ENGAGED IN HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES WITH THEIR CHILDREN IN THE CLASSROOM, MONTHLY HOME VISITS FROM THEIR CHILDS TEACHER, AND ADULT LITERACY & ENGLISH CLASSES. CHILDCARE WAS PROVIDED TO YOUNGER SIBLINGS AT NO COST TO THE FAMILY. WE SERVED 46 FAMILIES (118 UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS) IN ALHAMBRA ELEMENTARY AND ISAAC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITH DIRECT SERVICES AS MENTIIONED ABOVE DURING THE COURSE OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.
ACTIVELY PARTNERED WITH LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS TO IDENTIFY AND RECONNECT WITH FORMER PRESCHOOL STUDENTS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS (BILLIE GANNAWAY MEMORIAL, WILLIAM O. SMITH MEMORIAL, AND IVEY STEPPING HIGHER). DUE TO COVID-19 PRECAUTIONS, WE HELD THE ANNUAL STEPPING INTO COLLEGE EVENT FOR FORMER PRESCHOOLERS CURRENTLY IN HIGH SCHOOL VIRTUALLY. WE TALKED ABOUT MULTIPLE SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AND OTHER RESOURCES TO HELP STUDENTS ATTEND POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION. 32 SCHOLARSHIPS WERE AWARDED TO 24 UNIQUE STUDENTS FOR A TOTAL OF $35,000.
WORK-TRAINING PROGRAM; HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES WHO WERE FORMER PRESCHOOLERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY FOR ONE OF TWO ANNUAL PAID ADMINISTRATIVE INTERNSHIPS. TWO SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES ARE SELECTED EACH YEAR TO WORK IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE AND ARE TRAINED AND MENTORED IN PROVIDING FRONT-OFFICE AND COMPUTER SUPPORT TO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ASSFS PROGRAMS AND SPECIAL EVENTS. TWO INTERNS WERE EMPLOYED THIS FISCAL YEAR.
NTEE category: Education
Secondary category: Youth Development