Page 22 - BusinessWest November 28, 2022

HOLYOKE CHICOPEE SPRINGFIELD HEAD START INC.
30 Madison Ave. Springfield, MA 01105 (413) 788-6522 www.hcsheadstart.org
Chief Executive Officer: Nicole Blais
YEAR ESTABLISHED 1965
MISSION STATEMENT
Holyoke Chicopee Springfield Head Start Inc.
is committed to providing low-income children and their families with a beacon of hope and source of support for a brighter future. We strive to do so by providing high-quality, comprehensive child-development services to enrolled children and empowering families to achieve stability in their home environment.
WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO
Give children and families in your community a Head Start!
HCS Head Start strengthens your community by supporting children and families, and providing early educational opportunities, healthcare, nutrition, and guidance.
Research shows that your community is likely to receive up to $9 in benefits
for every $1 invested in Head Start. These benefits include increased earnings, employment, and family stability, and decreased welfare dependency, crime costs, grade repetition, and special education.
“Investment in birth-to-5 early education for disadvantaged children helps prevent the achievement gap ... Head Start graduates tend to be more persistent in their education, more inclined to healthy behaviors, and less inclined to be involved in criminal activity.” —James Heckman, Professor of Economics and Nobel Laureate
Head Start focuses on:
• EDUCATING Children. We promote school readiness by enhancing children’s social and cognitive development through the provision of educational, health, nutritional, social, and other services.
• SUPPORTING Families. Our services for families include health and nutrition programs, mental-health programs, parenting programs, relationship programs, and financial-education programs.
• BUILDING Healthy Communities. We support the health and education of families and children of our communities through our comprehensive programs, and in partnership with other area service providers.
GIVING OPPORTUNITIES
Since Head Start’s beginning, the federal government has committed to cover 80% of the actual costs of program services. It is anticipated that local programs,
in collaboration with communities, raise the other 20%. The requirement for a non-federal share match to a Head Start or Early Head Start program reflects the partnership and commitment between the federal government and local community, and to the young children and families served in the program. You can:
• Donate classroom supplies;
• Give to the annual All I Want for Christmas campaign; • Offer professional services; or
• Contribute a monetary donation.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
There are a number of ways to volunteer:
• Become a classroom volunteer;
• Help stock our Emergency Food Closet;
• Become a member of our Community Read-a-Loud Program;
• Share a special talent with the children, such as cooking or music; or • Become a breakfast or lunch buddy.
THE TEAM
Nicole Blais, Chief Executive Officer
Janet Steigmeyer, Chief Operating Officer
Cynthia Normand, Chief Financial Officer
Mahera Chiarizio, Director of Education
Lori Chaves, Director of Family Services
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Susan Gosselin, Chairperson
Raymond Akers, Vice Chairperson
Alison Walsh, Treasurer/Clerk
Esther Alicea, Parent Dr. Andrew Balder Daniel Blakesley Sally Carlton Melissa Danehey
Jennifer Wallace Jacoby
22 NOVEMBER 2022 GIVING GUIDE
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