2008-09

2008-09: Support You Need for Children to Succeed

Installed its FY 08/09 Board of Directors’ officers at its Annual Board Meeting on July 29, 2008. Board Officers are: Chair – Donna Mansfield, community volunteer; Vice Chair – Karen McDonald, City of Fayetteville;
Secretary – Dr. Ernest Johnson, Highland Presbyterian Church; and Treasurer – Erica Little, Easter
Seals/UCP Dorothy Spainhour Center.
PFC receives $8.8 million Smart Start appropriation and $9.4 million More at Four appropriation.
PFC received its 6th consecutive clean bill of financial health for Smart Start and all other funding sources - no audit findings. The NC Office of the State Auditor reviewed Fiscal Year 2007-2008 activities for compliance in the following areas: accuracy of financial statements; methods for processing and authorizing transactions; and contract compliance.
PFC hosted the Toddler Driving School at the Cumberland County Fair from September 18 to 28, 2008. Over 400 families from rural and outlying areas of the county participated in the free oppportunity to teach their children about traffic safety in a fun environment and learned more about programs available to help them in their role as their child's first teacher.
PFCs Quality Enhancement Unit hosted the annual Meet and Greet at the Hilltop House on October 2, 2008. This event brings together local agencies supporting and working with child care facilities to enhance the collaborative process required to increase star ratings.
The Fayetteville Museum of Art's Artastic was held at Festival Park on October 4, 2008. Four volunteers participated providing 23.5 hours of service to help turn 300 children ages birth to 5 years old into glow in the dark fish.
PFC staff participated in the United Way campaign raising over $10,000 to support local agencies. The theme for this year was Kidsville USA and each team sponsored a candidate for President. Candidates were Sarah Palin (Rose Powers), Mary Katherine Gallagher (Karen Hudson-Bott), the Fairy (Tawnee' Benedetto), Barbie (Eileen Evans), the Enchantress (Pam Howser), Old Mother Hubbard (Lynn Vick), Elmo (Stephany Jackson), and GI Joe (Chad Webb). Barbie won the election.
Angel tree gifts were distributed to the families at the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Support Group Holiday Breakfast on December 16, 2008. A total of 240 gifts, from puzzles to bicycles, were donated in support of these families.
PFC Board Chair Donna Mansfield and her family hosted a holiday gathering at her home for the Cumberland County legislative delegation on December 8, 2008.
PFC sponsored a float in the Rotary Christmas parade, held on December 13, 2008, to create awareness of the More at Four Pre-kindergarten Program. Parents and children from More at Four programs throughout the county entered a contest to ride on the float - there were 5 lucky winners. It was a beautiful day and fun was had by all.
The Partnership was the beneficiary of the annual Evening with the Stars Oscar Party on Sunday, February 22, 2009. The event raised over $30,000. Over 100 guests attended the event which was held at the Arts Center and Cameo Theatre Art House.
In January 2009 the Board of Directors established a unique staff position, Military & Government Affairs Liaison. This action was taken to better meet our mission by strengthening PFC's connection with the military, elected officials, and governmental organizations. The Living in the New Normal (LINN) - Supporting Children Through Trauma and Loss Public Engagement Campaign was launched in October 2008. This was sponsored by the Military Child Education Coalition in collaboration with the BRAC Regional Task Force and Ft. Bragg. At the conclusion of this event PFC was designated as the point of contact/coordinating organization for future efforts. LINN and public policy is the primary focus for the work of the Liaison position.
The Partnership for Children and the Cumberland County School System partnered in February 2009 to seek a Ready Schools Incentive Grant. The grant would enable the organizations to implement the Ready School Assessment tool to be used in the development of a "Ready Schools Plan." The grant was received in April 2009 and Cliffdale Elementary School was selected as the first pilot school.
PFC assisted the BRAC Regional Task Force by hosting a focus group luncheon on February 26, 2009 for military spouses who are working or seeking employment. The goal was to learn more about challenges military spouses encounter when seeking employment and child care. Over 30 spouses registered for the event.
Board Treasurer Erica Little and Eva Hansen represented PFC at First Lady Michelle Obama's visit to Fayetteville on March 12, 2009. Mrs. Obama honored Fayetteville for their commitment and support of military families. Only a few local organizations and businesses were invited in recognition for their work on behalf of military families.
PFC staff participated in the Break the Chain of Child Abuse Ceremony on March 28, 2009. PFC's Professional Development Career Center was presented with the Agency "Champion for Children" Award in recognition of its dedication to improving the lives of young children.
PFC Board Directors traveled to Raleigh with parents, Smart Start service partners, and staff on April 7, 2009 for the annual Tuesdays for Tots. The group met with the Cumberland County legislative delegation to advocate on behalf of young children and to tell them about the return on investment in Smart Start and the More at Four Public Pre-kindergarten Program.
PFC hosted its fourth annual Community Relations Day on April 9, 2009. Over 1,800 child care teachers, parents, and children attended and were treated to fun games and crafts thanks to the 151 volunteers who contributed 536 hours of service. The highlight of the event was a "drop in" by members of the Special Forces Paratrooper Team.
200,000 people visited the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival the weekend of April 26-27, 2009. The Partnership's KidStuff children's area was host to 8,100 Cumberland County families and 1,800 young children. The highlights of the area were the Two by Two Zoo - the Zoo with the Roo and the Toddler Zone. Little children got out of their strollers and enjoyed fun activities designed just for them.
PFC's past Board President, Charles Morris, was the first recipient of the Ashley Thrift Volunteer Award (an award that to honor leadership, commitment, passion for children, and tireless advocacy on behalf of Smart Start ).
PFC was one of only two Partnerships to be recognized for 100% Board Giving for six consecutive years.
On May 2, 2009, PFC staff and family members participated in the March of Dimes' March for Babies to honor George Wyatt, the great nephew of an employee. $533 was raised, exceeding the $250 goal.
PFC hosted Army Community Service (ACS) Family Support staff and leadership on May 29, 2009. The guests visited the FTCC Early Childhood Education Center and Kindercare to learn more about programs available for military families in the community, Smart Start funded programs, and the More at Four pre-kindergarten program. The site visits were followed by a tour of the Omni Family Resource Center and lunch.
PFC hosted an All Ages Conference for child care professionals on May 30, 2009. The event offered workshops and speakers to help early care and education professionals provide the best possible care and education to the children they serve and gain continuing education credits.
Without volunteers PFC wouldn't be able to accomplish its mission. More than 100 volunteers worked over 500 hours at 30 outreach events this fiscal year (this is not inclusive of the time given by Board Directors and committee members).
Donna Mansfield was honored as one of Cumberland County's top volunteers on June 23, 2009.
PFC deployed Mosaic's GEMS in July 2008. A system that will meet the individual and collective needs and capacities of the Smart Start Initiative and can be linked with other related state data bases such as DCD, More at Four and NACCRAware.

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