News

The Parent-Child Home Program’s National Center (PCHP) is pleased to announce that it has received a $1 million contribution – the largest in its 46-year history – from the Estate of Marian Naumburg, a past donor to PCHP. The gift represents a major step toward PCHP’s goal of raising $2.5 million to fund its national expansion efforts, as it strives to bring its evidence-based school readiness, early literacy program to the growing number of families with two- and three- year old children who face enormous barriers to future school success. PCHP’s two-year intensive home visiting program is designed to build language-rich home environments, help bridge the achievement gap, and prepare children to be successful students. Currently PCHP works in more than 150 communities in 14 states, Bermuda, Canada, and Ireland, serving approximately 7,000 families annually, many in major metropolitan areas including New York, Seattle, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, and Minneapolis.

PCHP’s Chief Executive Officer Sarah E. Walzer, said “we are deeply grateful for this extraordinary and transformative leadership gift, which will help make it possible for us to move forward with expansion plans, despite the significant reductions in public funding that have resulted from the current economic climate. In addition, through its matching gift challenge, the Estate has also provided a terrific catalyst for our ongoing fundraising efforts.” Under the terms of this challenge, the Estate will award $700,000 of the overall $1 million gift to support PCHP’s expansion through a 2:1 match, provided that PCHP secures $350,000 in additional funding from other sources. The remaining $300,000 has been allocated by the Estate to provide vital general operating support for the Parent-Child Home Program’s National Center.

Co-Executor of the Naumburg Estate, Joshua Ginsberg, commented that the Estate recognized “the critical importance of the work that the Parent-Child Home Program undertakes on a daily basis to improve the lives of children and families around the country. This gift is a vote of confidence in that work, as well as in the organization and its management.” He cited PCHP’s win in the 2010 Growth Philanthropy Network/Social Impact Exchange National Business Plan Competition as further evidence of its ability to “use these funds effectively and efficiently to create a real and positive impact for some of the most vulnerable in our communities.”

Speaking on behalf of PCHP’s Board of Directors, Board President Eric W. Hess thanked Ginsberg and the Estate for “this outstanding and forward-thinking contribution.” He noted that the PCHP Board is “committed to raising the $350,000 in required matching funds, as part of our continuing effort to fully fund the $2.5 million expansion plan.”

News of the gift was first shared with the 200+ guests who attended PCHP’s Literacy Champions Gala, held earlier this month at the New York Athletic Club in midtown Manhattan. The event, which honored renowned author, director, and producer Lawrence Schiller, raised nearly $230,000 to support PCHP’s work.

The Gala also featured the premiere of a new four-minute video highlighting the work of the Parent-Child Home Program and the stories of some of its participating families. The video, funded by a generous grant from Youth I.N.C., can be viewed via our website, www.parent- child.org.

The Parent-Child Home Program is an evidence-based, research-validated early childhood literacy, parenting, and school readiness program. PCHP uses trained paraprofessionals to work with families who have not had access to educational and economic opportunities, preparing children for academic success and strengthening families through intensive home visiting. The PCHP’s National Center strives to ensure that families in communities across the country have access to The Parent-Child Home Program. The National Center assists communities in developing PCHP replications and expanding existing sites. The Center works to increase public awareness about the importance of early parent-child verbal interaction and works with public officials and private donors to increase the availability of public and private funds that can be utilized to support Parent-Child Home Program replications around the country.

For more information on The Parent-Child Home Program, visit www.parent-child.org.

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