Over $340K Awarded To Help Early Childhood Education Initiatives In DuPage Foundation

DUPAGE COUNTY, IL — DuPage Foundation recently awarded more than $340,000 to help support local efforts to improve early childhood education.

The grants are part of the Bright & Early DuPage initiative, which was started in 2013 to foster "sustainable, coordinated, local early childhood collaborations that expand access to high-quality early childhood education," a news release said.

The following seven organizations received grants:

• Addison Partners for Play, Learning and Education
• Bensenville Early Learners Supporters
• Glenbard Early Childhood Collaborative
• WeGo Together for Kids
• Wheaton Warrenville Early Childhood Collective
• Villa Park Area Early Childhood Collaborative
• Willowbrook Community Early Childhood Collaborative

“Strong communities begin with solid foundations for our youngest residents,” Barb Szczepaniak, vice president of programs at DuPage Foundation, said in a statement.

She added, “By bringing together local partners and investing in collaborative solutions, Bright & Early DuPage is helping communities expand access and create opportunities for families to thrive. We’re proud to support the organizations coming together to make quality early childhood education more accessible across DuPage County.”