Nebraska Community Foundation Continues to Place High Value on Early Childhood

High-quality early childhood programs are increasingly seen as essential for community growth and development. It is a message Nebraska Community Foundation (NCF; www.nebcommfound.org) president and CEO Jeff Yost has been sharing throughout the NCF network of more than 200 affiliated fund communities.

On Monday, September 17, Yost and eight NCF early childhood development advocates served as panelists and facilitators for 250 civic, business, and education leaders from over 70 communities across the state. The purpose of this day-long session, which took place in Kearney, was to learn more about how to provide quality childcare and early learning opportunities for young children and to share success stories from efforts already underway. The event, “Thriving Children, Families, and Communities: The Role of Early Childhood Programs,” was sponsored by the Nebraska Community Foundation, the Buffett Early Childhood Institute, and five other organizations.

“Quality early care and education is critical to the vitality and future of communities and our state,” said Jeff Yost, who offered closing remarks at the event. “Early childhood programs are no longer something we want to do, they are something we have to do. Our children and families need it, our schools benefit from it, and our current and prospective businesses are demanding it.”

For more information about the Nebraska Community Foundation, visit their website www.nebcommfound.org.