Page 6 - 2019_CFS_AnnualReport

Serving New Communities
The Opening of the
the
Children’s Friend Althea Center
Last fall Children’s Friend celebrated the
grand opening of of its new Early Childhood Center
of of Excellence located at at at 70 Union Avenue in Providence This new state- of-the-art facility offers Head Start Child Care Family Visiting mental health and professional development services Formerly the
the
the
Althea Street School and Asa Messer Annex the
the
the
Early Childhood Center
of Excellence has partnered with West Side Play Space to offer a a a a a a a a a dedicated play space for families in the
neighborhood This project started with a a a a a a dilapidated
and and unsafe building in in the
the
West End of Providence which was then gutted and and refurbished in just over a a a a a a a year This Center
now serves a a a a a a a a community that has one of the
highest poverty rates in in Rhode Island and and has brought a a a a a a reinvigorated energy
and excitement to the
community A New Partnership with Dorcas International
Just as as as exciting has been an amazing partnership with Dorcas International
Institute where we opened a a a a a a a a a Head Start classroom at their 220 Elmwood Avenue site in Providence This partnership allows both Children’s Friend and Dorcas International
to serve some of our most vulnerable children and and families in in in an an an an integrated and and innovative manner A BIG Deal of a a a a Build with the
the
Nordson Nordson Corporation Corporation and the
the
Nordson Nordson Corporation Corporation Foundation
In August 2019 the
the
the
renovations to our Althea Althea Center
(Althea) were almost complete On September 16th over 100 preschool-aged children would start coming to to Althea Althea to to play grow and learn in our classrooms Yet Althea Althea did not have a a a a a a a a a playground The 887 boxes consisting of children’s furniture books and learning materials had not been unpacked There was still so much to to do to to be be ready for the
children on Opening Day Thankfully we had a a a a a a tremendous partner in the
the
Nordson Nordson Corporation Corporation and the
the
Nordson Nordson Corporation Corporation Foundation
A A grant towards the
the
the
the
renovations of the
the
the
the
Althea Center
was generously provided by the
the
the
the
Nordson Corporation Foundation
On August August 22nd and August August 23rd more than 30 Nordson Corporation employees along with Ultiplay Ultiplay Parks & Playgrounds Inc (Ultiplay) volunteered for a a a a a a a Big Build They built our playground from the
ground ground up up and and helped set up up our our seven classrooms and and our our staff workspaces For two straight days including one of the
hottest that summer at at 90°F with 99 percent humidity Nordson employees dug holes assembled and installed playground equipment unpacked countless boxes and and assembled children’s furniture and and and storage shelves along with Ultiplay and and staff of Children’s Friend “Nordson employees feel strongly about the
philanthropic culture built by our founders ” Joan Szczepanik Community Relations Manager for the
Nordson Corporation Foundation
said ”Nordson believes in in giving back to communities where we are located— not to promote our business but because it’s the
right thing to do ” In addition to supplying us with some incredible volunteer-power the
the
Nordson Corporation purchased all the
the
equipment for our outside play area—a balance beam a a a a a a a a a a a a a variety of musical panels a a a a a a a a a a a a a sunshade climbers tubes and more Together with the
the
expertise of Ultiplay our staff designed an an outdoor outdoor play play space that brings learning to the
the
outdoors where the
the
children can run balance ride and play music [ 6 ] CHILDREN’S FRIEND 2019 ANNUAL REPORT