The Consumers Energy Foundation recently granted $5,000 to the Great Start Collaborative and Parent Coalition of Charlevoix, Emmet and Northern Antrim Counties to support preschool tuition for families in need. 

“The Great Start Collaborative aims to ensure all children are developmentally ready to succeed in school at the time of school entry. A key to this success is ensuring high-quality early learning experiences for youth,” said Savanah Cool, GSC Director.

While Head Start and Great Start Readiness Program provide free preschool for many families, some youth and families in the community remain waitlisted for those programs. When this occurs, families face additional challenges as they strive to pay tuition based programming for their children, Cool noted.

“Great Start Collaborative seeks funding each year to support the Great Start Collaborative Preschool Scholarship Program to alleviate some of the strain and level the playing field to ensure all children have an opportunity to achieve their maximum potential,” Cool said. “Thank you to the Consumers Energy Foundation for investing in our local early childhood system.”