This Giving Tuesday: Enhancing Early Education and Funding the Future
For more than three years, the Foundation for East Baton Rouge School System has partnered with leaders across our community to expand access to early childhood care in East Baton Rouge. We have seen firsthand how strategic investment in early childhood can create measurable community impact. We know that when children begin kindergarten prepared, they build a strong foundation for lifelong learning. We also know that strengthening early childhood care supports working families and reduces the millions of dollars Louisiana employers lose each year because of child care related absences and turnover. Investing in early childhood education is an opportunity to support our children, empower families, and strengthen the long term success of our workforce and our economy.
On Tuesday, December 2, we will celebrate Giving Tuesday, and the Foundation for East Baton Rouge School System invites our community to invest in a stronger and more prosperous Baton Rouge by supporting our Early Steps Campaign. Together, we can expand high quality early learning opportunities and ensure that more children begin school ready to succeed.
Why Early Learning Matters for Our Community’s Future
Early childhood lays the foundation for success, and quality early learning helps children thrive. Research shows that children who receive high quality early education are more likely to graduate high school, pursue higher education, and achieve greater lifetime earnings. They enter school confident, curious, and ready to thrive, and they grow into adults who are well prepared to join and strengthen our workforce.
In East Baton Rouge, we have an incredible opportunity to ensure that more children experience this strong start. By investing early, we help families access reliable, high quality care, we support parents who are working to provide for their households, and we build a stronger talent pipeline for the future. Expanding early learning access strengthens our community today and creates long lasting benefits for our regional economy.
What the Early Steps Campaign Makes Possible
The Foundation for East Baton Rouge School System created the Early Steps Campaign to expand high quality early childhood seats for children birth to age four across East Baton Rouge Parish. Through this initiative, we are increasing access to early learning seats for families and improving quality across early childhood programs.
A key advantage of supporting this campaign is the state’s dollar-for-dollar match for eligible early childhood gifts. This structure ensures that local dollars stay local, every contribution doubles its impact, and more children receive these vital opportunities.
Your investment goes further than ever.
• $1,000 helps fund one month of early childhood care.
• $11,000 helps fund nearly a full year of opportunity for a child.
This work is strengthened by the leadership and support of our Early Steps partners, including the Baton Rouge Area Foundation and The Huey and Angelina Wilson Foundation. Their commitment helps ensure more families across our community have access to high quality early learning opportunities.
A Giving Tuesday Opportunity With Meaningful Impact
As we look ahead to Giving Tuesday, our community has a powerful opportunity to come together with shared purpose. Supporting early childhood education now helps ensure children enter kindergarten ready to succeed. These early investments strengthen the foundation of tomorrow’s workforce, support economic mobility, and reinforce the long term health of Baton Rouge.
This Giving Tuesday, we invite our community to stand with us. Together, we can expand access to high quality early childhood education and create a stronger future for Baton Rouge. If you are interested in making a Giving Tuesday contribution to the Early Steps Campaign, click here.
For questions or partnership opportunities, please contact Jennifer Lightfoot at jennifer@foundationebr.org.
