Our Champions
Champlain Valley Head Start is a federally funded child and family development program, and the majority of our funding comes from U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services. Although Head Start is funded by the federal government, in recent years Head Start programs across the country have been asked “to do more with less.” While funding levels remain relatively the same, expenses continue to increase, including the cost of food, space, utilities and health benefits for staff. At the same time, programs such as Champlain Valley Head Start remain committed to high quality services for children and families.
CVHS has a long history of operating a high quality program, and providing services which meet all federal, state and local regulations. However, we are not content to stop there – our goal is to provide world-class, innovative services, above and beyond our standard program requirements, to meet the needs of children and families in northwest Vermont. This is where the Champions come in.
Champlain Valley Head Start has started to reach out to donors and sponsors interested in funding innovative, value-added services for children and families which go above and beyond the minimum requirements of Head Start. In 2010, Northeast Delta Dental Foundation became the first of our Champions. Starting with the 2010-2011 school year, Northeast Delta Dental Foundation generously provided $84,000 in grant support for the Vermont Head Start / Early Head Start Tooth Tutor Dental Access Program. With the Tooth Tutor Program, Champlain Valley Head Start is able to contract with Registered Dental Hygienists (“Tooth Tutors”) who:
- promote positive oral health practices for Head Start / Early Head Start children and families;
- improve access to preventive oral health care for this population;
- work with the dental community to better meet the needs of program participants; and
- assure that program participants receive any needed follow up treatment to address oral health issues.
With generous, ongoing support from Northeast Delta Dental Foundation, the Vermont Head Start / Early Head Start Tooth Tutor Program continues to be an overwhelming success, and numerous children have received expedited care for dental exams and, in some cases, for desperately needed oral treatment or surgery. Please click here to read about one of our tremendous success stories.
Shelburne Vineyard hosts its Music in the Loft Concert Series on the first Thursday of every month from November through May of each year. On Thursday, April 5, 2012, the Music in the Loft Concert Series featured singer/songwriter Mike Colbourn playing a mixture of original songs and interpretations of alt country Americana music. Admission was free and open to the public, with light refreshments courtesy of event sponsor The Farmhouse Tap & Grill. 10% of proceeds from this event benefited Champlain Valley Head Start.
We are grateful to have these fine local businesses in our community, and deeply appreciate their investment in the well being of children and families. Given the strong commitment of these businesses to quality food, Champlain Valley Head Start is utilizing proceeds from this event to benefit food and nutrition services for children served in the Head Start program.
Champlain Valley Head Start is seeking additional donors and sponsors to be Champions of other innovative work and projects we have planned. Please click here for additional information on becoming a donor or sponsor for CVHS.
