From our Board of Directors
Friends, we’re in our kindness era.
At EarlystART, it’s a time to reflect on the countless acts of compassion, inclusion and generosity we’ve encountered in 2024. From generous donors and volunteers, to our dedicated educators and families – your ripples of kindness supported us through waves of change, opportunity and progress.
This year’s Gratitude Report is a tribute to the power of kindness – kindness that sustains our mission as we educate the hearts and minds of little learners.
On behalf of our Board of Directors, we offer our thanks to EarlystART’s leadership and staff for their talent, love and commitment that bring our mission to life. Your enduring influence on our students, families, and community is the very legacy of EarlystART!
As always, we welcome your support, involvement and advocacy. Let’s keep kindness in our hearts as we create a healthier, more prosperous Kansas City.
“We pledge to do our very best in what will be a year of inspiring, strengthening and empowering. Our littlest learners and families deserve nothing less!”
From our CEO
Educating the mind, without educating the heart, is no education at all.
- Aristotle
Dear Friends –
Educating the mind, without educating the heart, is no education at all.
These words from the ancient Greek philosopher remind us that the awesome responsibility of educating children goes beyond the cognitive aspects of learning. At EarlystART, we embrace values like empathy, compassion and courage to build strong minds and even stronger spirits.
The result: students not only take in information but are able to appreciate its worth. With an educated heart, students can see the world through a lens of equity, respect and kindness. An educated heart and mind support decision making that benefits the needs of society.
In 2024, our hearts and minds tended to immediate needs right here at EarlystART. It was a year of renewing and resetting as our team faced challenges and opportunities head-on. I’m proud to report that:
EarlystART’s retention rate in 2024 is 99 percent. Our team has united, finding strength in our shared goals, plans, and dreams!
Enrollment is at capacity – 124 students – and we’re working to admit students on our wait list as more staffing resources are attained.
Social emotional learning specialists have also joined our team, providing on-site services to students, families, and educators in partnership with Cornerstones of Care and UMKC.
As we look to 2025, we do so with joy and gratitude. Thank you for walking by our side as we move forward with confidence in our minds, and hope in our hearts.
Onward and upward!
The Benefit of an EarlystART!
An EarlystART education provides a strong foundation for future success by fostering cognitive, social, and emotional skills, preparing Little Learners for Kindergarten and beyond!
94% of EarlystART Pre-K students achieve Missouri kindergarten-readiness benchmarks based on the Desired Results Developmental Profile (DRDP), an assessment tool designed to help teachers, parents, and administrators observe, document, and reflect on children’s learning and development from birth to 12 years old.
Creating a culture of belonging.
At EarlystART, we’re fostering an environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and included, allowing them to bring their authentic selves to school or to work and to contribute their unique perspectives.
Putting the “kind”
in future kindergarteners.
The Kindness Study brings out the very best version of little learners.
Common sense is not common.
That statement was a powerful revelation for Miss Barbara Hill, a preschool teacher at EarlystART’s St. Mark Center.
“I was in a professional development workshop several years ago and the trainer stated, ‘There no such thing as common sense.’ That took me by surprise, but it is true: we all come from different backgrounds and experiences. What is common to one person may be completely foreign to someone else.’”
It was a concept that transformed Miss Barbara’s approach to helping little learners develop strong characters – traits to support their success in school and in life.
“Some of our students have experienced trauma or simply have not been taught what it means to be kind or to be respectful,” she says. “It takes energy and mindfulness to be kind,” she says. “It’s easy to get into mischief. When we do right by others, it may go unnoticed. Being intentional with kindness, however, brings greater awareness of ourselves and the world around us.”
In the Yellow Room where Miss Barbara teaches 3-5 year olds, the tables are lined with kindness jars – vessels in which the students place a cotton ball for every good deed they share that day.
“The students now go out of their way to demonstrate kindness,” says Miss Barbara. “They are learning that their words are powerful – that we don’t need to talk about what we are not but, rather, what we are: kind, respectful, caring.”
2024: BY THE NUMBERS
The number of nutritious snacks our Little Learners consume each day – a whopping 2,480 snacks per month!
The number of times EarlystART students wash their hands each day. That equates to 3,100 times each year…and that’s a good thing!
The number of naps taken at EarlystART each week. That equates to 2,496 naps every month and a whole lot of zzz’s!
%
The portion of a child’s brain that is developed by age 5! That’s precisely why early learning is crucial to a child’s all-around healthy development.
You make a BIG difference in the lives of Little Learners!
The 30,000,000 Word Gap
Healthy Outcomes
Ready for the future
YOUR GIFT MAKES A DIFFERENCE!
Investing in Bright Futures
Early childhood programs can yield a $4-$9 dollar return per $1 invested. The benefits are in the form of reduced costs for special education, social programs, and crime, according to the National Forum on Early Childhood Policy and Programs.
This means that a gift of $5,000 returns $20,000 to $45,000 in societal benefits for our local economy! All gifts – no matter the size – make a difference!
EarlystART happenings in 2024!
Volunteers: Simply the Best!
Save the Date and Join Us!
September 13, 2025 – 6 pm
The Abbott
1901 Cherry Street
Kansas City, MO
Spotlight on Generosity
Here’s to our amazing community – individuals, foundations, and organizations – that lift up our wonder-filled mission. Thank you for your kindness!
$200,000+
Children’s Services Fund of Jackson County
Hall Family Foundation
Jackson County Outside Agency
ReBuild KC
Sherman Family Foundation
Stanley H. Durwood Foundation
$100,000+
Bank of America
Barbara and David Dehaemers
George K. Baum Family Foundation
United Way of Greater Kansas City
$50,000+
Hallmark Cards
Health Forward Foundation
Hunt Family Foundation
R & C Charitable Foundation
$25,000+
Greater Kansas City Community Foundation
J.E. Dunn Construction
Jackson County COMBAT
Kansas City Royals Foundation
Janice & Thomas Kreamer
Missouri Arts Council
National Trust for Historic Preservation
Resurrection, A United Methodist Church
Shumaker Family Foundation
$10,000+
Deidre Anderson
Sarah & Jonathan Baum
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City
BlueScope Foundation
Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
Genevra Alberti and Jason Backstrom
Jacob & Ella C. Loose Foundation
Judy Kirk
Mazuma Credit Union
Oppenstein Brothers Foundation
$5,000+
ArtsKC Regional Arts Council
Irene Bettinger
Estelle S. & Robert A. Long Ellis Foundation
Evergy
G. Kenneth & Ann Baum Fund
Helen S. Boylan Foundation
Mark & Mary Jorgenson
Judge Cleveland F. Moulton Christmas Poor Fund Trust
Kauffman Foundation Matching Gifts Program
National Utility Contractors Association Greater Kansas City Region
Beryl Raff & Paul Russell
United WE
Maurice Watson
Fifi White
$2,500+
Lorraine & Luis Basalo
Linda & Kent Bumgarner
Lynn & Paul Douthat
Edgewood & Park
Emmanuel Family & Child Development
Sandi & Ed Fried
Samanda Bryant Hagan
Jewish Community Foundation
Kansas City Royals
R.A. Long Foundation
Janice & Mark Schonwetter
Union Station
Joni & Fred Wickham
$1,000+
Stuart M. Bershtein
Bukaty Compnaies
Central Presbyterian Church
Kevin Clark
Suseela & Ravi Dasari
Sarah Epsten
Donna Gould Cohen
Frances Gershon Freiden Klein Fund
Gwendolyn Grant
Phyllis & Spencer Hardwick
Heartland Macs
Sheryl & Andrew Kaplan
Alice Kitchen
Regina & Bill Kort
Metropolitan Community College
Navy Federal Credit Union
Ralph C. Johnson & Company
Lisa & Charles Schellhorn
Katherine & Paul Schofer
Leland Shurin
Linda Stevens
Urban League of Greater Kansas City
VanTrust Real Estate
VMLY & R
up to $999
Miriam Zimet-Aaron & Mark Aaron
Alice & David Achtenberg
Courtney Adams
Craig Anderson
Karay Bangham
Billie Barnes
David Barnes
Sally E. Beal
Sue McCord-Belzer & Irv Belzer
Anne & William Blessing
Dr. & Mrs. Harvey Bodker
Brandon Brada
Julie & Adam Braude
Linda & Michael Braude
Stevi & Dr. Jeff Brick
Marla Brockman & Dr. John Goldberg
Mary Buechler
Leslie Castro
Charities Aid Foundation America
Angela Cheatem
Church Mutual Insurance Company
Kay Conklin
Jennifer Cooper
Jennifer Copeland
Matt Writes Copy
Russell Cornelius
Dana Cutler
Lindsey & Reid Day
Tye Day
David Douglas
Sherri Drake
Mary Esselman
Crystal Everett
Iman Fennell
Colleen Flatham
The American Online Giving Foundation
Kristy P. Frazier
Bernie Fromm
Amy Fountain Frye
Paypal Giving Fund
VMLY&R Matching Gifts Fund
Dennis Funderburke
Garmin International
Shirley Gaufin
Jerome Getz
Jim Giles
Joanna and Lawrence Glaze
Bob Grant
Alana Ellis & Drew Greer
Betty Harris & Tom Scott
Kerry Hartnett
Susan & Roger Hawk
Teresa Hellman
Samara Crawford Herrera & Tino Herrera
Cokethea Hill
Matrika Hornsby
Eric Howton
Fawn Jamerson
Rebecca James
Gina Kaiser & David Gale
Sharyl Kaplan
Jeannine Kausch
Janet Kelley
Renee Kyles
Terrance LaCrosse
Dr. Tyjuan Lee
Erik Lund
Susan Lund
Mindy Manes
Arlene Marti
Kansas City Young Matrons
Camilla McCracken
Kate and Chris Migneron
E’Lisa Moses
Andy Navran
Erin Neuman
Rachel Nugent
Lane Odle
Cheer Pankey
Julie Peacock
Karen Peters
Mike and Mary Poggie
Allison Puff
James Redler
Bruce Reed
Harriet Rice
Palle & Dennis Rilinger
Mariah & Chris
Reva Robinson
Margaret H Ronning
Dr. Howard & Rosanne Rosen Donor Advised Fund
Michael Ryan
Moji Shagbamimu
Loretta Shelly
Alayna Smith
Kristin Smithson
Sheryl & Joshua Stein
Focal Design Studio
Sarah J. Summers
LaTonia Taylor
Whites-German Fund of the Triangle Community Foundation
Loleta Thomas
Dr. Mel Tinjaca
Susan Toussaint
Sherry Tyhurst
Kyle Uhlig
Gail Vessels
Siabhan Mays-Washington
Latresse Yarbough
YOUR GIFT MAKES A DIFFERENCE!
Financial Overview 2024
REVENUE & CONTRIBUTIONS
| Contracts | $1,912,673 |
| Grants/Contributions | $986,449 |
| Program Fees | $304,226 |
| United Way | $80,108 |
| Interest & Other Income | $148,079 |
| Special Initiatives | $167,499 |
| TOTAL | $3,599,034 |
PROGRAM EXPENSE/ COMMUNITY BENEFIT
| Early Education & Family Engagement | $3,706,880 |
| Administration, Finance & Fundraising | $883,351 |
| Professional Development | $241,433 |
| Interest/Other | $50,948 |
| Special Initiatives | $137,091 |
| TOTAL | $5,019,703 |
The above information is derived from unaudited financials. Upon completion of EarlystART’s audit, the information will be amended, if needed.
Primary drivers for financial losses in 2024 were carry-over expenses early in the year from the closure of two of our centers; utilization of talent recruitment and contract services until staffing could be stabilized; and major expenses in technology/licensing, roofing and HVAC repair.
With a strong faculty and administrative team in place, EarlystART is actively working to streamline expenses and maximize funding efforts and opportunities for a healthier financial position and long-term growth and sustainability.
