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 nearly 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.
Clinical therapists 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!
92% of EarlystART Pre-K students achieve Missouri kindergarten-readiness benchmarks, a rate that far exceeds the readiness rate (about 30%) for children in our city.
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 work and contribute their unique perspectives
Putting the “kind” in kindergarteners.
The Kindness Study brings out the very best version of Little Learners.
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77% of EarlystART children and families identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC).
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72% of EarlystART faculty and staff identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC), reflecting diversity of the communities we serve.
Families see themselves reflected in classroom language, multicultural literature, toys, and curriculum, and their identities mirrored in staff and other parents. In addition to classroom curriculum, Cultural Heritage Nights also provide opportunities for EarlystART students and families to grow in awareness and meaningful connection.
Watch the recap of Hispanic Heritage Night or read our blog post: Shaping the World as We Dream it to be: Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive to see our commitment to an ongoing celebration of diversity.
Shaping the world as we dream it to be: diverse, equitable, and inclusive.
While Black History Month takes place in the month of February, we know our little learners,...
2024: BY THE NUMBERS
Why Your Support Matters
YOUR GIFT MAKES A DIFFERENCE!
Investing in Bright Futures
Research shows that 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 (The National Forum on Early Childhood Policy and Programs).
This means that a gift of $5,000 returns $20,000-$45,000 in societal benefits for our local economy!
EarlystART held 26 events in 2023!
Thanks to our Incredible Volunteers!
Save the Date and Join Us!
Spotlight on our Generous Community
Here’s to our amazing donors – individuals, foundations, and organizations – that lift up our wonder-filled mission. Thank you for your kindness!
$25,000+
| George K. Baum Family Foundation | Hallmark Cards | Menorah Heritage Foundation |
| Stanley H. Durwood Foundation | Health Forward Foundation | R and C Charitable Foundation |
| Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation | Jackson County Outside Agency | Resurrection, United Methodist Church |
| Kauffman Foundation Matching Gifts Program | Kids Win Missouri | Sherman Family Foundation |
| Greater Kansas City Community Foundation | Carrie J. Loose Trust | United Way of Greater Kansas City |
| Hall Family Foundation | Jacob and Ella C. Loose Foundation Fund |
$10,000-$24,000
| Backstrom Family Foundation | J.E. Dunn Construction | Thomas and Janice Kreamer |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City | GEHA | Kirk Foundation |
| G. Kenneth and Ann Baum Fund | Hunt Family Foundation | National Endowment for the Arts |
| Helen S. Boylan Foundation | Jackson County COMBAT | UMB Bank |
$5,000-$9,999
| ArtsKC Regional Arts Council | Sandi and Ed Fried | National Utility Contractors Association – Greater Kansas City Region |
| Jonathan and Sarah Baum | Guardian Roof Care | The PNC Financial Services Group |
| BlueScope Foundation | Mazuma Foundation | John and Marny Sherman |
| Francis Family Foundation | Judge Cleveland F. Moulton Christmas Poor Fund Trust | Systems of Care Initiative |
$1,000-$4,999
| Deidre Anderson | Allan and Carol Hallquist | Ruth Stricklen Pullins |
| Ashwani Family Foundation | Diane Harrison | Beryl Raff and Paul Russell |
| Phillip Brown and Melissa Rooker | Rebecca James | Charles and Lisa Schellhorn |
| Kent and Linda Bumgarner | Mark and Mary Jorgenson | Paul and Katherine Schofer |
| Shannon D. Burrow | Kansas City Royals Baseball Club | Janice and Mark Schonwetter |
| CBIZ Kansas City | Kansas City University | Genie D. Shoffey |
| Central Bank of Kansas City | Andrew Kaplan | Shop Local KC – Strawberry Swing |
| Central Presbyterian Church | Deborah Kass | Peter and Laura Sloan |
| City of Kansas City, Missouri | Alexis Kerr | Linda Stevens |
| Kevin Clark | Judy Kirk | United WE |
| Enterprise Bank & Trust | Alice Kitchen | University Health |
| Ginny Epsten | Bill and Regina Kort | VMLY&R |
| Helen and Randall Ferguson | Deborah Mann | Maurice Watson |
| 15 and the Mahomies Foundation | Navrat Family Foundation | Stephen Westbrooks |
| First City Cavalry | Angelique Nedved | Wickham-James Strategies & Solutions |
| First Interstate Bank | Tyler and Leigh Nottberg | Kevin Wineinger |
| Erin Walsh Flood, DDS | Ryan Othmer | Darcie Ziesenis |
| Liz Grace | Torree Pederson | |
| George Guastello | Stacy D. and William H. Pratt |
$500-$999
| Michelle Anderson | Giving Hope and Help | Ericka Trotter |
| Ivan Battle | Samara Crawford Herrera | Union Station |
| Bernstein-Rein Advertising, Inc. | Patricia Jackson-Arnold | Nicole Wang |
| Mark Bogina | Matthew Mayer | Justin White |
| Michael and Linda Braude | Dennis and Palle Rilinger | Amy Winterscheidt |
| Erin Brower | Savers | Linda Word |
| Citizens of the World Charter KC | Michaela Stemmons | |
| Terry and Peggy Dunn | James W. Tippin & Associates |
$1-$499
| Mark Aaron and Miriam Zimet-Aaron | Seth Freiden | Tim McCoy II |
| David and Alice Achtenberg | Halley French | Vernita McMurtrey |
| American Century Investments Foundation | Amy Gale | Chris and Kate Migneron |
| Erika Armenta | Elizabeth T. Garver | Terence Miller |
| Dwight Arn | Drew Geer and Alana Ellis | Lu Cinda Mosher |
| Johnia Bagby | Adam Gentry | Alana Muller and Marc Hammer |
| Debby Ballard | Tisha Gildehaus | Todd Navrat |
| Bailey Barry & Matt Stacks | Joanna and Lawrence Glaze | Paula Neth |
| Leo Stephen Barbee | Karen Glickstein | Rachel Nugent |
| Victoria Barbee | Jeff Goldenberg | Maria OConnor |
| Katherine Baster | Jacob Gordon | Shari Olander |
| Michael Baxley | David Gray | Jane Ono |
| Sally E. Beal | Laura Gregory | Cristina Ortiz |
| Philip and Renata Beaudoin | Terese Grossnickle | Karen Osborn |
| Irv Belyn | Christina Hager | Daniel Parks |
| Michael Benike | Spencer and Phyllis Hardwick | Payne and Hinds |
| Michael and Mollie Berenbom | Danielle Harrison | Julie Peacock |
| Helen Betts | DeJhanea Harston | Bruce E. Pendleton |
| Cathy Bien | Bill Hartnett | Triveece Penelton |
| Claire Bishop | Judy Hellman | Donna Peyton |
| William and Anne Blessing | Chontea Hendrix | Corky Pollard |
| Barb Bloemker | Margo Herwig | Chris Porter |
| Hannah Boehm | Philip Hetu | Rozanne and Dean Prather |
| Cynthia Bradford | Cokethea Hill | Dawn Prude |
| Brady Enterprises | Norma Hines | Claudia Rabe |
| Adam and Julie Braude | Rachel Hodgson | Elizabeth A Radtke |
| Dr. Jeff and Stevi Brick | Julie Holland | James Redler |
| Jackie Brown | Patrick Hosty | Will Reed |
| Ladonna Brown | Vernon Howard | David and Sandra Renz |
| Scott Burnett | Hutch Humphreys | Harriet Rice |
| Barbara Butler | Ashley Hutcheson | Kathryn Ricker |
| Stephanie Byers | Christopher Hutchinson | Chris and Mariah Roady |
| TKayla Callahan | Joan Israelite | Dick and Sharyl Roady |
| Marcus Canipe | Merrily Jackson | Anastasia Rock |
| Jim and Karen Carns | Larry Jacob | Sharee Robinson Dr. Howard and Rosanne Rosen Fund |
| Carol Cartmill | Cynthia James | Gloria Rudd |
| Ashlee Carroll | JE Dunn Construction Company Charitable Fund | Cynthia Schenken |
| Lisa D. Charlson | Raphael Jeffrie sr | Alex Schulte |
| Chief’s Women’s Organization | Nathaniel Jeffrie | Dred Scott |
| Chelsea Childress | Sasha Jeffrie | Leslie Scott |
| Richard Clancey | Zanette Jeffrie | Leslie Shaw |
| Stephanie Cocherl | Jewish Community Foundation | Lynda and Robert Shapiro |
| Kimberly Coker | Megan Black Johnson | Loretta Shelly |
| Martha Comment | Ralph Johnson | Judy Sherry |
| Rita Cortes | Cindy Johnston | Courtney Shivers |
| Candy Cowings | Indaria Jones | Kristin Smithson |
| Todd Cowings | Jennifer Jones | Dianne Stanley |
| Jessica Cox | Amanda Jones-McCarthy | Phyllis A. Stevens |
| Abigail Cuenca | Lindy Joyce | Darron Story |
| Lee Ellen Curry | Gina Kaiser and David Gale | Cristen Summers |
| Damon Daniel | Allan Katz | Rachel Svaty |
| Linda K. Darr | Jeannine Kausch | Starr Terrell |
| Gray David | Kay Johnson and Bill Koeingsdorf | Susan Toussaint |
| Raina Davis | Mike Kehoe | Charity Tucker |
| Cedric Deadmon | Ann Keil | Eslun Tucker |
| Gail Dicus | Janet Kelley | Jamie Turner |
| Alicia Douglas | Kim Klein | Kyle Uhlig |
| David Douglass | Toni Kirkwood-Ealy | US Foods |
| Wendy Doyle | Alicia Kotarba | Gail Vessels |
| Sherri Drake | Rachel Krantz and Edward Goldstein | VMLY&R Matching Gifts Fund |
| Kristin Droege | Renee Kyles | Jennifer Waddell |
| Justin Duff | Brent Lager | Jumesha Wade |
| Andrew Duffy | Jacqueline Lamer | Terese Waldeon |
| Chris Duh | Curtis Langley | Christine Waldschmidt |
| Brittany Duncan | Chelsea Laub | Jennifer Wampler |
| Irvin Dwork | Brittany Leathers | David Warm |
| Tammy Edwards | Maureen Lillard | William E. Watson Jr. and Nancy Headley Watson |
| Candace Ellis | Sara Lissauer | Angela Whittaker |
| David Ersery | Leslea Lorenz | Ivera Williams |
| Mary Esselman | Derrick Loutsch | Mary Williams |
| Crystal Everett | Molly Lyons | Stephen and Marta Williamson |
| Kate Favrow | Vicky Mayer | Jerry Wolf |
| Coleen Flathman | Rhonda Mays | Amy Young |
| Maureen Flynn-Hart | C.J. McCarthy | Marcia Ziglinski |
| Kristy P Frazier | Kim M McChesney |
YOUR GIFT MAKES A DIFFERENCE!
Financial Overview 2024
