As a board member for the past 3 years and as a public health who visits families with young children, I have been impressed with the function of all aspects of this organization as they search and apply for new opportunities to serve Olmsted County better. About two years ago, they applied and were granted the opportunity to start an Early Headstart program in our city. The timeline for the grant and then the startup of this program was very short but the staff worked diligently and served many low income families with it. As a public health nurse in this county, I have watched children and their parents' lives be transformed by attending Early Headstart. Also when southeastern Minnesota flooded two summers ago, this organization quickly applied for a flood recovery grant to assist their daycare providers in the stricken area so that they could return to providing daycare as quickly as possible. Their Crisis Nursery services are timely and excellent in their prompt response to requests for childcare. Some of my families have used them with rather short notice.