Philanthropy Friday: Childhood League Center

What started out as a nursery for infants and children during World War II, today has grown into a licensed, accredited early education and intervention program. The Childhood League Center began in 1945 with its first nursery in the Sullivant Gardens Housing Project. Six years later, in September of 1951, The Childhood League expanded raising funds to purchase land and build a new nursery school for children three to five years of age with development delays. True to the hopes of the League’s founders and with persistent determination, League women accepted the challenge multiple times over the years to raise capital dollars for program expansion.

Today, The Childhood League is located across the street from Children’s Hospital. The $1.2 million state-of-the-art facility continues to serve as a beacon of hope for children with special needs and their families. Throughout the past 65 years, the League has steadfastly believed in the capabilities of each young learner who has come to the Center full of unlimited potential.

The Childhood League Center’s professional staff and Childhood League members partner with families and the community to ensure the optimal growth and development of nearly 120 children with special needs, ages 12 months to 6 years. Total enrollment in the Center-based program exceeds 150 children and includes typically developing peers. It is The Childhood League’s goal to help children reach their full potential as they grow through infancy, toddler-hood and preschool years to successfully transition into kindergarten and first grade.

Programs That Help

The Childhood League has many programs and services that help children and their families that promote social and emotional development, communication and motor skills, independence and a positive self-image.

Programs include:

Help Me Grow
Home-based service model focused on promoting the optimal development of all children with identified special needs or those at risk of developing a delay. Experienced professionals with expertise in child development and social work provide parent education, developmental screenings, service coordination and referral to community support services.

• Serving children prenatal to age 3
• Family goal oriented
• Parent support and education
• Developmental screenings
• Early identification of special needs
• Emergency assistance

Center-based Education Programs
A commitment to inclusion, collaboration and diversity guides program design and contributes significantly to each child’s growth and achievement. Influenced by the children’s interests and developmental needs, a rich emergent curriculum and individualized learning goals are seamlessly connected by the Center’s licensed teaching teams, pediatric therapists and support staff. As partners in learning, the Center’s children engage all of their senses and act as researchers: asking questions, testing theories and constructing knowledge.

Early Intervention (EI) Toddler Classes (Currently serving 64 children)

• Serving children ages 12 months to 3 years identified with delays in development
• Half-day classes, two days/week
• Experiential learning/sensory rich
• 3:1 child to adult ratio
• Integrated team-based therapies
• School year calendar
• No fee

Preschool Classes (Currently serving 90 children)

• Serving children ages 3 to 6
• Half-day classes; Monday through Thursday
• Inclusive classes (ratios of nearly 50% children with special needs; 50% children with typical needs)
• Inquiry-based learning
• 3:1 child to adult ratio
• Integrated team-based therapies
• School year calendar
• No fee for children with special needs; small sliding scale fee for children with typical needs

In addition to Help Me Grow, Early Intervention and Preschool education, The Childhood League has the following Specialized Comprehensive Services:

• Family education and parent support
• Speech and language therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Physical therapy
• Nursing
• Psychology, mental health and wellness
• Transportation services

Operating the Center

Nearly half of The Childhood League Center’s annual operating funds come from the local community. More than 20% of the total revenue comes from the annual Merry Go Round fund-raiser. Merry Go Round has been the League’s major fund-raiser since 1949 and has become a beloved tradition in the community. This unique evening of entertainment features Childhood League members and their spouses singing and dancing to a professionally choreographed and directed variety show.

Merry Go Round 2010 will take place Saturday, May 8th and will feature the theme “& the Beat Goes On…” The event will showcase entertainment by Dwight Lenox, a musical variety show featuring #1 hits through the decades, dinner, raffle, and live and silent auctions. It will also feature celebrity auctioneers Chuck Strickler and Anietra Hamper of WBNS 10-TV.

How You Can Help

The Childhood League is the process of creating a new website. Until they launch the new web site in May you can send contributions to The Childhood League Center, 670 South 18th Street, Columbus, OH 43205.

Other ways to support the Center include:

• Make a donation in memory or honor of a loved one
• Make a contribution to the League’s Annual Fund-raising Campaign
• Donate goods or services to the Center
• Attend Merry Go Round
• Donate an item for the silent or live auctions at Merry Go Round
• Volunteer

Becoming a Volunteer

League members make a commitment of five years during which time they volunteer in the classroom, serve on committees and raise funds through the annual campaign and their annual fund-raiser, Merry Go Round. Potential volunteers are welcome to call the Center regarding opportunities at (614) 253-6933.

For more information on The Childhood League visit www.childhoodleague.org. Or become a Fan on Facebook.

For behind the scenes information and photos visit www.inkindconnection.com.

Philanthropy Friday is a feature article by Michele Savoldi that will highlight a Columbus area non-profit organization every other week. For more nonprofit information follow Michele on Twitter at @cbusimpressions and @inkindconnect.