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Small Hands
– Big Dreams
Welcome to the Regina Early
Learning Centre’s
Capital Campaign!
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Before they can
write,
children at the Regina Early Learning Centre (ELC) pick a symbol to
represent their names – something they can draw on their work to
identify it as their own.
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Meet Zachary, four years old
and eager to
learn. This is
Zachary’s drawing of his symbol, the moon. As he
carefully draws the picture of his symbol, he is taking an important
step on the road to literacy and learning. With his own small hands he
is crafting his dreams for his future. Zachary holds the key to his
future in his hands.
The
moon is
more than
just a symbol for Zachary’s name.
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It’s a symbol for everything
the ELC
stands for: our approach towards early education, seeing children as
capable learners, respecting children’s need to learn through play, and
celebrating a child’s curiosity and sense of wonder.
Since 1977 the ELC
has
been serving the inner city community. Over 3,000 children have
attended the program and started school better equipped to succeed.
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This is
what parents say
about the Centre:
 “I’ve
been fortunate enough to have three of my children attend the
Centre and make a successful transition into the school system… I’ve
witnessed first-hand how my children have benefited from attending this
program and remain so thankful for all the wonderful memories which
I’ll always cherish.” (Merridee
S. parent and now on staff at
the ELC)
Four year old Sarah was absorbing
important lessons of equality. She
chose a brown crayon and drew a picture of herself. She asked the
teacher to “write her story”.
The teacher wrote what Sarah said: “I
made myself brown because I am brown”.
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“I'm
very grateful to the Centre, it made my kids positive and outgoing,
more safe. It gave them curiousness of learning. They learnt to read
sooner.” (Bernadine M. a parent of a child at the ELC)
“It
has been such an excitement when my daughter was accepted to
know she was going to attend the same preschool as I did even the same
teacher. The help is there as a parent when needed which is useful to a
parent. The school means so much to me … and I hope to see my
grandchildren attend”. (Amanda O. former pupil and now a
parent
of a
child at the ELC)
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But it’s not just
the parents who like the programs. Studies by external evaluators show
that the ELC makes a positive difference in children’s lives. We also
manage our resources responsibly. In 2007, the ELC was named one of the
nine most effective community based programs in Canada by Charity
Intelligence (see Charity
Intelligence Canada).
Now the ELC
has a
new challenge. The building that houses most of the Centre’s programs
is up for sale and needs extensive renovations and upgrades to bring it
up to today’s codes and accessibility standards. The Board of Directors
has launched a 1.5 million dollar capital campaign Small Hands – Big
Dreams to purchase the property and do the necessary work. |
The
Building:
$275,000. The Centre has the first
right of
refusal on the building and adjacent land and the Sisters have
generously
offered to sell at below market value (The building was purchased in April 2008).
New
Addition: $500,000. The new atrium will provide more
learning opportunities for children and families and enhance delivery
of art, science, and parent group
programs (Update: The Lantern is scheduled to be completed at the end of February).
Renovations
and upgrades:
$425,000.
The building was constructed in 1963. It is structurally sound but
needs to be upgraded to better meet program needs and today’s
environmental and accessibility standards.
Reserve
Fund: $150,000. In order to ensure long term
program sustainability, the reserve fund will be used to meet the
maintenance needs of both Early Learning Centre
buildings.
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Campaign
Costs: $150,000.
Grants have been received to cover the majority of the capital campaign
expenses.
Check
out
our
new
video
on
YouTube
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The ELC is about helping
children get off to a strong start and helping people change their
lives. It’s about fostering human qualities of compassion and respect
and developing relationships and social responsibility. It’s about
imagining a better world.
By
making a gift to the Small Hands –
Big Dreams
campaign you will be lending a hand to families who want no more than
the opportunity for their children to reach their potential.
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In
addition, you can make a secure and direct financial contibution to the
Early Learning Centre through the national support organization Canada
Helps. As a public foundation, CanadaHelps uses a
donor-directed funding model to facilitate online donations from donors
to charities. Click
here to make a contribution.
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