Mission: A Stepping Stone Foundation creates success for children of limited opportunities by providing a tuition free, high quality, comprehensive preschool program and ensuring the success of the parents with their children by requiring them to attend tuition free adult education classes, parental classroom participation and providing tuition free child care and enrichment for the siblings of the preschoolers.
Educating Two Generations Together!
Geographic areas served: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: Provide preschool classes for 3 and 4-year-old children who are at risk of school failure due to low literacy in the home during the public school year. While children are attending tuition-free daily preschool (m-th), parents participate in a minimum of 32 hours per month of: parenting classes, home-visiting, literacy classes, and working with their child in the preschool room. Younger sibling day care is provided during these services and home visiting is performed monthly throughout the school year. Served 37 families (121 unique individuals)in alhambra elementary school district with direct services as mentioned above during the course of the school year.
provide college scholarships and college graduation fee assistance for former preschool students. Nineteen scholarships were awarded this service year. Held the annual stepping into college event for former preschoolers currently in high school to talk about multiple scholarship opportunities. Held the annual bill and billie's kids go to college scholarship award event.
second year of two-year internships for former stepping stone preschoolers who need a first paid-work-experience. Two internships were awarded; interns worked ten hours weekly during the regular school year.
My child attended A Stepping Stone Foundation and graduated form the program in May of 2010. I went into the program because I was concerned about my daughter’s shyness and lack of interaction with other children. I received my high school diploma in 1997 and never attended college. I began to attend the GED classes offered by the foundation to sharpen my skills since it had been quite a few years since I graduated. It was tough at first but my teacher was patient and understanding. The foundation took our GED class on a small field trip to a local community college and to be honest I felt intimidated and scared. As we walked through the campus I began to realize that college was for me and that I was able to go and make something of myself. I was a stay at home mom and I thought that staying home with my children was what I was going to be doing for the rest of my life. Thanks to A Stepping Stone Foundation I have learned to shake off my fears and jump into early childhood teaching with confidence. I appreciate everything this foundation has done for me and my family because they not only helped my child decide what she wants to be when she grows up but what I want to be for the rest of my life. Ann
I went to preschool with A Stepping Stone Foundation. The staff and volunteers raised money in order to help young children and their families who are at disadvantage due to their socioeconomic setting. My preschool teacher was a staff of ASSF and she was wonderful in helping me prepare for Kindergarten. I would have been more behind in school if I did not receive an early education on English and social skills that the classroom provided. Also, when I attended college, ASSF was there to provide any support that I would have needed, especially morally. Everyone associated with ASSF were there to encourage me, provide assistance, and show passion in helping the next generation to succeed. I was blessed with the assistace of such a great organization. Now in graduate school, I am still in much contact with them and am always witnessing the future successful students that are graduating from this program.
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