2020 Annual Report

2020 ANNUAL REPORT

GEORGIA FOUNDATION FOR EARLY CARE + LEARNING

WWW.GAEARLYED.ORG

A MESSAGE FROM AMY M. JACOBS

Dear Colleagues and Supporters,

Welcome to the 2020 Annual Report of the Developed in conjunction with Carrie
Georgia Foundation for Early Care + Ashbee, the Foundation's Executive
Learning. Herein you will find the Director, this report will be insightful,
Foundation's accomplishments, thorough, and encouraging to those of
milestones, and financial performance in you interested in and committed to
Fiscal Year 2020, a year that most of us quality services for Georgia’s children,
will not soon forget. their families, and the early care and
education industry. Together, we have
As Chair of the Foundation's Board of made and can continue to make a
Directors, I thank all who championed our difference in the lives of Georgia’s
work, supported our goals, and helped citizens, young and old.
fund our programs that supported early
childhood care and education during our The Foundation is proud of what we…
country’s and state’s unprecedented with your help…have accomplished this
public health emergency. Although our past year, and more importantly, we look
2020 Annual Report is a look back at our forward to a continued partnership with
accomplishments this year, we will also you to enhance the well-being of our
look ahead to our ongoing efforts in the state’s children and families for years to
coming year. come.

AMY M. JACOBS

Chair of the Board of Directors

02 | ANNUAL REPORT 2020

WHO WE ARE

The Georgia Foundation for Early Care and Learning in an
independent 501(c)3 that supports the efforts of the Georgia
Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL). In 2017, the Georgia
General Assembly passed legislation allowing the nonprofit to form.
Shortly after Governor Nathan Deal signed the legislation into law,
the nonprofit was formed and began making strategic investments to
improve and expand high-quality education.

OUR MISSION

To support access to high quality early childhood education to
Georgia’s youngest learners and their families, providers, and
teachers through established strategic investments, collaborations
and partnerships in order to drive Georgia’s current and future
workforce.

OUR VISION

To provide the best beginnings possible for all of Georgia’s children.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

Research has shown that every dollar invested in high-quality early
education saves, on average, $13 later in reduced crimes rates, lower
demand for social services, and increased tax revenues. Investing in
early childhood education is vital to the success and stability of
individuals and our community.

03 | ANNUAL REPORT 2020

OUR STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS

The Georgia Foundation for Early Care + Learning’s mission is to support access to high
quality early childhood education to Georgia’s youngest learners and their families,
providers, and teachers through established strategic investments, collaborations and
partnerships in order to drive Georgia’s current and future workforce.

HIGH-IMPACT COVID-19 RELIEF &
NONPROFIT RECOVERY GRANTS

100% of all funds raised by the Foundation go
directly to the programs we support.

Due to the devestating pandemic in 2020, the Foundation
provided over $250,000 to child care providers and families
by addressing two critical needs: child care scholarships for
children of essential workers and financial assistance for
child care providers.

TWO-GENERATION

IMPLEMENTATION

The Foundation supported the
implementation of Two-Gen
strategies by co-hosting a 3-
day training conference and
purchasing over 200 Family-
Centered Coaching Toolkits for
DECAL's front line staffers and
case managers.

GEORGIA'S

PRE-K TEACHERS OF THE YEAR

The Foundation supported Georgia's Pre-K Teacher of the Year
Program which highlights and rewards outstanding teachers across the
state. This $20,000 program awards teachers with classroom
makeovers and individual grants as they serve as DECAL ambassadors
showcasing best practices in the profession.

TRAININGS &
PARTNERSHIPS

The Foundation supported research and training programs by partnering
with Voices for Georgia's Children and Quality Rated to create pilot programs
involving family child care providers and after-school programs, respectively.

04 | ANNUAL REPORT 2020

FINANCIAL STATEMENT

05 | ANNUAL REPORT 2020

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

UNITED WAY OF GREATER ATLANTA | $250,000
THE NASERIAN FOUNDATION | $20,000
GEORGIA TENNIS FOUNDATION| $18,000
CHICAGO JOBS COUNCIL | $7,550

VOICES FOR GEORGIA’S CHILDREN | $5,000
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR GREATER ATLANTA | $1,000

AMERICA’S CHARITIES | $752.95
FACEBOOK | $335.00

AMAZON SMILE | $12.15
DEPARTMENT OF EARLY CARE AND LEARNING | $16,671.49

06 | ANNUAL REPORT 2020

A MESSAGE FROM CARRIE ASHBEE,

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Georgia's Children, Georgia Statewide
Afterschool Network, Joseph P.
As we reflect back on State Fiscal Year Whitehead Foundation, Learn4Life,
2020, ending on June 30, some might Naserian Foundation, United Way of
find it difficult to recall anything that Greater Atlanta, Chicago Jobs Council,
happened before the public health crisis. and Community Foundation for Greater
Life as we knew it completely changed Atlanta. With these partnerships, we
around the world in March of 2020 and were able to support afterschool
we all have been left to cope with the research, Quality Rated trainings in
aftermath of this pandemic. family child care homes, Two-Generation
work through Family-Centered Coaching
The Foundation had to adjust like every trainings and toolkits, and the annual
other nonprofit, business, school or Pre-K Teacher of the Year Program to
family. Several new programs had to be name a few.
put on hold such as the Statewide
Infant-Toddler Teacher Initiative With SFY 2020 now in our rear view
conference or the inaugural Georgia mirror, we stand inspired by the
Early Childhood Educator of the Year achievements of all involved and look
Program. However, the year of the forward to the bright beginnings for the
pandemic is far from lost. In fact, there children, their families and educators, in
are many bright spots found throughout which we serve!
the entire year!

The Foundation partnered with several
Georgia nonprofits such as Voices for

CARRIE ASHBEE

Exectuive Director

07 | ANNUAL REPORT 2020

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Commissioner Amy M. Jacobs
Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning

Mrs. Stephanie Blank
Naserian Foundation

Mr. Coy Bowles
Zac Brown Band

Mr. Tim Cairl
Atlanta Metro Chamber

Mrs. Katie Childers
Piedmont Hospital

Mrs. Gretchen Corbin
Georgia Lottery Corporation

Mrs. Ann Cramer
Coxe Curry & Associates

Representative Katie Dempsey
Georgia General Assembly

Dr. Noris Price
Baldwin County Board of Education

Mr. Brandon Reese
WellStar Health System

Mrs. Sister Ward
GeorgiaPower Company

Carrie T. Ashbee
Executive Director

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