Friends of Meadowlark exists because we believe the earliest years of a child’s life are the most important and that early childhood education has the power to transform a child’s entire future. Research indicates that children who receive consistent, high-quality early care experiences show better early academic outcomes and social-emotional wellbeing than peers who didn’t, with effects that persist into high school and beyond. They also go on to earn approximately 25% more over their lifetimes than peers who lacked that same early foundation.

Across the research, one factor consistently unlocks these outcomes: the quality of the program itself — including teacher training, curriculum, a nurturing environment, and family involvement. This is why Friends of Meadowlark was created: to give young children equal access to the highest quality early childhood experiences, equipping them with the personal and academic skills to fulfill their potential and lead happy, productive lives.

We pursue this mission by providing tuition assistance to families that need it and investing directly in the resources that make an excellent early learning environment possible: classroom materials and enrichment programs for children, early invention services, family engagement initiatives that strengthen the home-school connection, and community partnerships that support the broader wellbeing of the families we serve. We believe a child’s earliest years should not be shaped by economic inequality, and we work to close that gap for our community.

Studies show a $7 return on every dollar invested in quality early childhood education illustrating the power of every donation.

Friends of Meadowlark is a 501(c)3 organization. All donations are tax deductible.