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Thank You Award Presented to First Lady Evers
Childcare organizations thank First Lady, Gov. Evers for support
Madison, Wisconsin (Thursday, August 25, 2022) — On behalf of childcare organizations in the Madison area that received support and funding from the Beyond the Classroom Grant program, Emily Wills, development director, Wisconsin Youth Company, presented First Lady Kathy Evers with a thank you gift at the Madison Out-Of-School Time Conference. Beyond the Classroom Grant program was announced in April 2021 to financially support programs that provide resources for school-age children. More than 30 organizations in the Dane County area received funding from this grant, totaling more than $8.5 million.
“The cost of ensuring every child in our state has access to out-of-school time care would be insurmountable without the investment from our governing officials. Those funds kept childcare organizations operating during the pandemic and made essential childcare programs and services accessible for children and families,” Wills says.
Wills presented First Lady Evers with a framed handprint painting made by the children from Elver Park Neighborhood Center with a quote from Mr. Rogers, “Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children, play is serious learning.”
Caring for children is impossible without the immense talent and dedication of professionals like those supported by these grant funds.
“Many of the organizations represented at the MOST Conference would not be here today without the support of Governor Tony Evers and First Lady Evers’ dedication to supporting children and families,” Wills adds. “We thank them both for being champions of safe spaces where children can learn and play outside of school hours.”
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Related reading: Employee Recognized for Outstanding Youth Worker Award
