Local nonprofit given grant for early education center
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – Under-served familied will have more access to early childhood education after a grant was given to Sunbeam Family Services Wednesday morning. They plan to renovate a new early education center with the funds.
'This is a huge impact in finishing this fundraising goal for our new center,' CEO for the nonprofit Sarah Rahhal said.
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They offer early education, mental health, foster care and parenting services across Oklahoma County. Wednesday morning, they got a $200,000 boost from the James M. Cox Foundation to help serve 32 children.
The grant also caps a $1 million fundraiser that they've been doing for a year and will go towards a building just next door. It used to be an emergency senior shelter, but it shut down during the pandemic. Now, the plans are laid out to help underserved families children to start learning early.
'90 percent of a child's brain is developed before their fifth birthday,' Rahhal said. 'So, early education helps all that good brain development.'
The organization emphasizes S.T.E.A.M learning. Parent Jessica Bruckerhoff said this will help others like the nonprofit helped her son Walter, who was born a month early.
'Walter is 4 now and he is on an upward trajectory and he will be ready for preschool this year,' Bruckerhoff said Wednesday.
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They expect the center to open this fall. A play area is already situated in the back, with more to come.
'I hope everyone will be a champion for early education because it really is about the future of our community,' Rahhal said.
The organization also has a matching donation fundraiser going right now. You can find more at sunbeamfamilyservices.org.
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