Grant from Local Resident Saves Hudson’s “Even Start” Program
June 11 , 2007Hudson, NY—Columbia County resident Marlene Brody announced at the June 11 Board of Education meeting that she will contribute $200,000 to the Even Start Family Literacy Program, allowing it to continue despite the termination of its federal funding. Ms. Brody’s donation will be issued as a community challenge grant through the Marlene Brody Literacy Fund, a fund of Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation.
“Even Start is a school-community partnership that combats poverty and illiteracy by integrating early childhood education, adult literacy, and parenting education into a unified program. Since its inception in 1999, it has served 100 families, including 165 children under age 10; there are currently 60 children in the program, ranging from birth to age 10.
“The true wealth of a nation resides in a literate educated public,” said Ms. Brody. “Literacy and education start at the cradle and grow through family involvement. Hudson’s Even Start plays a unique and wonderful role in nurturing literacy among less-advantaged children and their parents.”
Ms. Brody, a resident of Ghent and Florida and supporter of early education, asked Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation and her friends Carmi and Lynn Rapport of Hudson to identify ways that she could support literacy among young children in the Hudson Public Schools. Lynn Rapport, herself a longtime kindergarten teacher, introduced her to Carol Ganz, principal of John L. Edwards Elementary School, who had initiated the Even Start program.
“The Even Start program was a perfect cause for Marlene to support, given her commitment to early literacy,” said Attorney Carmi Rapport, currently chairman of the Board of Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation. Mr. Rapport added the program was at a critical juncture since it was about to lose the federal funding it had received under the No Child Left Behind Act.
“We are grateful to Marlene for recognizing how important Even Start is for low-income families in Hudson,” said Dr. Fern Aefsky, superintendent of Hudson City School District. “Her generous contribution creates a strong foundation for our efforts to raise the additional funding we need from other sources, including individuals, public funds and other foundations.”
Ms. Brody’s donation must be matched by an additional $200,000 to fund Even Start for an additional two years. Dr. Aefsky said that the community will raise $40,000 during 2007-8 and $160,000 during 2008-9 in order to match Ms. Brody’s grant. Mr. Rapport said that $20,000 had already been generated for the challenge grant through Berkshire Taconic’s financial stewardship of the fund’s assets.
Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation is a nonprofit organization that cultivates philanthropy in ways that have a direct positive impact on the cities and towns of Berkshire County, MA; Columbia County and northeast Dutchess County, NY; and northwest Litchfield County, CT. For more information, please contact Berkshire Taconic at 271 Main Street, Suite 3, Great Barrington, MA, 800-969-2823.
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