H.A.N.D.S. Creates Endowment

November 17, 2009: H.A.N.D.S. (Helping Area Needs for Diverse Early Child Care Services) of Wyoming County has established an operating endowment with the Community Foundation of Susquehanna & Wyoming Counties. The endowment is an interest accruing fund which will help support H.A.N.D.S. operational expenses into the future.

H.A.N.D.S. is a non-profit organization whose board of directors is made up of early childhood educators and administrators, agency representation, parents and community leaders who are dedicated to improving the quality of early care and education within Wyoming County. H.A.N.D.S. operates the Wyoming County Family Resource Center which houses an Educator/Parent Lending and Learning Library (materials to help parents and educators prepare children for kindergarten can be borrowed similar to a public library), children's play area for socialization time for children and parents, Educator's Lab which includes a laminator, die cut machine, binding machine and other art materials used to create materials to use in classrooms and at home by parents and training facility for Early Childhood educators workshops. The center also makes available a food bank for families and participates in the Toys for Tots program. H.A.N.D.S. also offers a home visiting program called Parents as Teachers which helps parents better prepare their children for Kindergarten. H.A.N.D.S. administrates the Pre-K Counts program for the Tunkhannock Area School District. This is a free pre-school program offered by local partnering childcare facilities. Working with families, children, and care givers with the support of state and local agencies such as the Wyoming County United Way, H.A.N.D.S. provides essential services to the community and its children. Research has shown that children who receive quality early care and education that makes them better prepared to enter kindergarten impacts their chances of graduating from high school and going on to higher ed. This in turn affects the economy and future of our community. H.A.N.D.S. programs also work to identify children with special needs and provide better education to them in the early years which decreases the need for additional services upon entering school. This results in a saving of funds needed for special classrooms and extended services. H.A.N.D.S. continues to seek out sources of funding that will enable more children to attend quality pre-k programs throughout the county.

Although Community Foundation fund investments year to date have earned 20% interest, this is also a time when many local families have realized a sudden financial windfall and the additional tax burden that accompanies it. Tax deductible donations to the H.A.N.D.S. endowment will solidify H.A.N.D.S.' ability to deliver training and materials to prekindergarten educators, support parents in their efforts to obtain quality care, and help students prepare for kindergarten. Donations can be directed to the Community Foundation, at 36 Lake Ave. Montrose, PA 18801.

The H.A.N.D.S. fund, through the generosity of the community, can provide lasting support for the essential services the organization provides to Wyoming County families while enabling H.A.N.D.S. to be less dependent upon government funding.

Questions about the H.A.N.D.S. fund, or The Community Foundation, can be answered at (570) 278-3800 or online at www.community-foundation.org.