The Public Life Foundation of Owensboro has awarded a $500,000 multi-year grant to the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence. The grant will fund high-level early childhood policy and practice work throughout the coming years.
The grant is part of a $4 million Early Childhood Education Initiative being funded by the Public Life Foundation. The Prichard Committee will be hiring a senior-level early childhood policy and practice expert to lead this work. A job description can be found at here.; resumes will be accepted through Feb. 12.
“Support from the Public Life Foundation of Owensboro will provide a base for continued focus on the importance of early childhood policy and practice, with the goal of expanded high-quality early childhood programs statewide,” said Brigitte Blom Ramsey, Prichard Committee President and CEO. “The exciting innovation in this grant is the opportunity to support Owensboro and Daviess County in establishing a strong, community-driven early childhood ecosystem that becomes an exemplar statewide, and possibly nationally.”
David Boeyink, Executive Director of the Public Life Foundation, said this grant is a fascinating opportunity to provide sustained focus on early childhood policy at the state level and implementation of best practices in Owensboro.
“For nearly 25 years, the Public Life Foundation of Owensboro has supported civic participation in community life. This deep engagement of citizens resulted in significant progress in Owensboro,” said Boeyink. “We are committed to ensuring Kentucky leads the nation in preparing its youngest learners for success in school and life.”
Bruce Hager, chair of the Public Life Foundation of Owensboro, said institutional support to the Prichard Committee will enable the foundation to carry out John and Marjorie Hager’s aspirations to seize opportunities that bring together the community through civic engagement.
“The Prichard Committee has a long-standing commitment to improving education outcomes for students in the Commonwealth,” Hager said. “We are thrilled to support them in work that will have roots in Owensboro but will expand throughout the state to benefit early learners from Pikeville to Paducah.”
