Community Foundation of Wabash County Successfully Completes $4 Million Campaign to Advance Education and Change the Future of Wabash County

Community Foundation of Wabash County Successfully Completes $4 Million Campaign to Advance Education and Change the Future of Wabash County

The Community Foundation of Wabash County is pleased to announce its successful completion of the ambitious $4 million Operation Change the Future campaign, aimed at combating population decline by advancing educational attainment in Wabash County. Operation Change the Future provides essential funding for two strategic early intervention programs: the Early Childhood Program and Imagine Early, formerly named the Early Award Scholarship Program.

As the campaign began in the fall of 2022, the Foundation began utilizing campaign contributions earlier this year to support both programs.

“Our Early Childhood Program has provided financial support to four licensed childhood programs including Manchester Early Learning Center, First Friends, the LaFontaine Learning Community, and the Montessori School at the Wabash Presbyterian Church, to increase the wages of their teachers,” said Julie Garber, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives. “These wage increases are critical for stabilizing the workforce, recognizing the value of a child care credential, and opening more classrooms to serve additional children.”

In just the first four months of awarding grants, early childhood programs in the coalition have seen greater success in attracting and retaining highly qualified teachers, resulting in more available childcare seats for families in need of care. Since the beginning of Operation Change the Future, there has been an increase of twelve teachers resulting in around forty more children having access to high-quality care. The Foundation will also be implementing operational grants to help child care programs tier their fees for family affordability.

The second program, Imagine Early, gives each participating student the opportunity to earn a total of $1,500 in post-secondary financial aid through their own efforts in grades 4 through 8. More than money, the program builds upon skills gained in early childhood and encourages in-school learning, raises student and parent educational expectations, and shapes a college and career-bound identity. Early research of Imagine Early by the University of Michigan demonstrates that participation in Imagine Early is positively associated with higher state standardized math test scores, improved attendance, improved grades, less course failure, higher college bound identity, and improved measures of social-emotional health.

“Families participating in Imagine Early are saving more frequently for their children’s post-secondary education compared to non-participating families,” Patty Grant, the Foundation’s President and CEO added. “This program is changing the trajectory of our students’ futures by helping to build a strong foundation for success in both education and life.”

Thanks to the generosity of more than 150 donors, businesses, private foundations, and financial institutions, the Foundation has already supported over 600 young children in high-quality care and awarded early scholarships to nearly 3,000 Wabash County public school students.

“We are thrilled to have completed our goal,” says Melissa Ford-Kalbfell, the Foundation’s Development Associate. “We are grateful for the overwhelming community support to raise educational attainment, reduce poverty, and contribute to the growth of Wabash County. Together, we can change the future for generations to come.”

To learn more about Operation Change the Future or to further support the Early Childhood Program and Imagine Early please visit cfwabash.org or call 260-982-4824.