LOCAL Houston | The City Guide JANUARY 2016 | Page 33

FOOD | ARTS | COMMUNITY | STYLE+LEISURE

Created by United Way of Greater Houston and ExxonMobil in 2002, United Way
Bright Beginnings child care centers help children from low-income families gain
social, emotional, physical and cognitive milestones that prepare them to enter school
ready to succeed. There are 33 such centers in the Greater Houston Area that serve
children from infancy to five years of age. Combining excellent teacher and director
training, educational scholarships and developmentally appropriate curricula, equipment and supplies, United Way Bright Beginnings teachers work individually with each
child to understand their needs and to plan their curriculum based on the interests of
the child. Alumni of the program can expect higher math and reading scores, greater
language abilities, lower dropout rates, and higher employment and earning rates–

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which better prepares them to enter the workforce and compete
in a global economy. “The educational foundation we provide
our children now will determine not only their future, but the
future of our community,” said United Way of Greater Houston
President and CEO Anna M. Babin. “Early childhood education
has a huge influence on a child’s future success, but for many
parents, providing quality early childhood education for their
children is not an easy or affordable task. That is why United
Way Bright Beginnings is so important.” United Way Bright
Beginnings has prepared more than 9,000 children to start and
succeed in school and, just last year, alumni outperformed their
peers on 25 of 30 state and national exams.

...IS FOR BRIGHT BEGINNINGS

By Ida Sameri | Photography courtesy of United Way of Greater Houston

january 16 |

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