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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNarrativeSt. Alban's Day Nursery Inc., D.B.A. St. Alban's Child Enrichment Center Address: 3465 Booker Street, Miami, FL 33133 Phone Number: 305.443.1234 Contact Person: Dr. Franklin F. Sands Agreement Amount: 250,000.00 Agreement Period: 10/01/08-09/30/09 PROGRAM NARRATIVE Statement of Organizational Capacity: St. Alban's Child Enrichment Center's history and mission are rooted in providing high -quality pre-school education and building a better future for the children of Miami. It's founding mothers and fathers include the Rev. Canon Theodore Gibson of Christ Episcopal Church in Coconut Grove and Mrs. Elizabeth Virrick. It was incorporated in 1949 as St. Alban's Day Nursery, Inc., to provide care to pre-school children of working mothers. St. Alban's Child Enrichment Center is a private not -for -profit organization funded by Miami -Dade Community Action Agency, Miami Dade Office of Community Development, City of Miami, Department of Human Services, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), United Way of Miami and with other fees and private donations. St. Alban's has been imbedded in the community for almost 60 years. St. Alban's major accomplishment has been its ability to effectively provide childcare and family services to so many for so long. St. Alban's has served approximately 20,000 children in its more than 59 years of existence. St. Alban's Enrichment Center has placed such people's feet on the right path as world recognized Astronaut Winston Scott, who walked in space, and was a member of the St. Alban's Alumni class of 1956. At the heart of every success story is a guiding force — a parent, a teacher, an educational institution that makes an impact on one's life, enabling them to leave an imprint in life. For Winston E. Scott, St. Alban's was that guiding force. At St. Alban's, every child has the opportunity to be whatever they want to be — even an astronaut. There is, however, a critical need at St. Alban's to create an "Every Child Has An Opportunity Sustainability Fund". St. Alban's suffers from what a lot of not -for -profit organizations suffer from — a dependence on grants, where money is spent upfront, then after 15-30 days reimbursed. This particular process can place an organization in a condition of having to scrape for funds until funds that were expended upfront are finally reimbursed. An organization can scrape by each month and finally it catches up to them — and then, there is a financial crisis. The second existential crisis for St. Alban's is that there are fewer poor children coming to it as the neighborhood around St. Alban's gentrifies. This Center has been an historic community fixture for thousands of poor children and their parents since its incorporation in 1949. St. Alban's has a highly qualified distinguished Board of Directors, who along with the Policy Committee (made up of parents representing the children and families currently served) which together provide shared governance and oversight. Dr. Franklin F. Sands, a highly seasoned professional leader, was recently appointed Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer for St. Alban's Child Enrichment Center. Dr. Sands brings a Ph.D. degree in Education and Research, along with a wealth of experience as an exceptional leader, who will lead St. Alban's capacity to create its future, and ensure its continued distinction as a Head Start Program of Excellence. Presently, St. Alban's has a staff of thirty-five professionals, specialists and technicians who have the requisite credentials in their respective fields that comply with all regulations and background screenings as established by the Department of Children and Families. In the interest of upgrading and transforming the capabilities of its workforce for the future, St . Alban's has six (6) teachers currently enrolled in courses to obtain (earn) Florida Director's credentials. Background and Current Need: It all started in the 1930's when Black children and White children were not allowed to share classrooms. St. Alban's began because of segregation and inequity. Now, each class is taught and populated by caring White, Black and Hispanic teachers. Also, the children it serves are as diverse as the communities it serves (Coconut Grove, South Miami, Little Havana and points beyond). Never being adequately funded, St. Alban's has carried on for decades — with no financial margin for error. Through ups and downs in attendance (population droughts/gentrification), through months when pay came days late, and through the frequent deficits when parents couldn't pay — St. Alban's stood in the "gap" and no parent or child was ever turned away. No one argues the benefits of Early Head Start training, and good quality infant and toddler care. Everyone from the President down sings its praises. But, where the rubber meets the road, no one funds it adequately and institutions like St. Alban's, that don't have wealthy patrons to make up the shortfall, work with the constant threat of closing, looming over their shoulders. This lag in funding has caught up to St. Alban's, and without a hero or a one-time endowment of $250,000.00 or more; or an additional $25, 000.00 a month as a payroll guarantee, this institution is constantly threatened with its doors being shut. Program Goals and Objectives: St. Alban's intends to survive here in Coconut Grove, and take full advantage of the changing demographics. St. Alban's plans to expand its full pay base and continue to offer services to low income families, which will continue and remain as a significant part of its historic focus. The St. Alban's marketing plan continues to anticipate full enrollment for the 2008/09 school year, along with the required waitlists, and it plans to capitalize on the parents looking for a centrally located Center that is on their way to work in downtown Miami and adjacent areas. Dr. Sands is in the process of formalizing St. Alban's "Development" efforts by establishing the St. Alban's "Honorary Circle of Friends and Advisers" consisting of such notables as Martin and Constance Margulies, David Lawrence, Lynn Weiner, Alonzo and Tracy Mourning, Winston E. Scott and several others from the Coconut Grove and Coral Gables areas. The initial fundraising efforts have been focused on liquidity, while trying to secure multiple year pledges. The St. Alban's "Development" process will operate under the supervision of the Executive Director, having oversight by the Board of Directors, and direct liaison with the "Honorary Circle of Friends and Advisers", the Administration and Fiscal offices. This fundraising process will be driven by volunteer community supporters who will help design and develop St. Alban's Gift Acceptance Policy (GAP). The GAP will — • Define the types of donated assets St. Alban's will accept; • Establish the forms of Gifts/donations St. Alban's will accept; • Define the various roles in processing and administering gifts, donations, endowments; and • Will seek legal advice when appropriate. St . Alban's is firmly committed to ensuring the provision of high quality child development services to children and families in the Head Start/Early Head Start program. Considerable progress is being made on all fronts to transform St. Alban's into a "learning organization" capable of creating its own future. St. Alban's intends to continue to garner and maintain the support of the community by increasing the flow of confidence -building information; increasing its donor base; and by increasing the level of financial contributions from the ever -widening circle of friends. Please help St. Alban's create its "Every Child Has An Opportunity Sustainability Fund," during this period of transformation and need.