Acre Family Child Care proudly announces they are amongst the 2019 $100K for 100 grantees of the Cummings Foundation. The Lowell-based organization was chosen from a total of 574 applicants during a competitive review process.
Acre Family Child Care (AFCC) is a family child care system which supports a network of 60+ independent, MA licensed child care educators. These educators provide loving and enriching early learning programs to 400 children on a daily basis here in Lowell.
Co-Executive Directors Zelma Khadar and Lucas Skorczeski attended the Grantee Reception at TradeCenter 128 in Woburn on June 6th to celebrate with the Foundation the $10 million infusion into Greater Boston’s nonprofit sector. Both Directors shared, “We are thrilled that the Cummings Foundation is generously supporting Acre Family and our Parent Engagement Coordinator position over the next few years. Offering the extra assistance to young families is so critical in making sure children receive the early education and support they need to be life-long learners.”
The Parent Engagement Coordinator’s goal is to empower families to make healthy decisions for themselves and their children especially when crisis strikes. The Coordinator serves as a coach helping families navigate through complex systems and advocate for their children. The Coordinator also connects families to resources throughout the community from housing to developmental assistance for their children and more.
About Acre Family Child Care
Founded in 1988, Acre Family Child Care provides a pathway for women to achieve economic independence by operating high quality child care businesses in their homes. To date, AFCC has helped over 500 family child care educators open their own business – 6 new child care businesses were launched in 2018 and 3 additional ones have opened in the first 6 weeks of 2019; offered 2,000+ hours of professional development – 15 businesses began our proprietary training program in 2018; provided $550,000 in business loans to help AFCC educators purchase program supplies and materials, make a down payment on a house, make home improvements, and take college classes – $52,000 loans enhanced businesses in 2018; and provided care to 15,000 children — 600+ youth received care this past year.
About Cummings Foundation
Woburn-based Cummings Foundation, Inc. was established in 1986 by Joyce and Bill Cummings. The Foundation directly operates its own charitable subsidiaries, including New Horizons retirement communities in Marlborough and Woburn. Its largest single commitment to date has been to Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. Additional information about the Cummings Foundation and the complete list of 100 grant winners is available at www.CummingsFoundation.org.