National Provider Appreciation Day Local Celebration

May 3, 2012 - PRLog -- The Early Learning Coalition of Southwest Florida announces that Florida’s Governor Rick Scott proclaimed May 11, 2012 as Provider Appreciation Day. At upcoming Area meetings for early care / early learning child care providers in Collier, Glades, Hendry, and Lee Counties, special notice will be made and certificates of appreciation will be awarded to those in attendance.  

Local participating early care / early learning child care centers where media can attend/take photos and video include:

•   Monday, May 7          6 pm – 8 pm   Moorings Presbyterian Church, 791 Harbour Dr.,   Naples, FL  34103
•   Tuesday, May 8          6 pm – 8-pm   Early Learning Coalition of SW Florida, 5256
Summerlin Commons Way, #201, Ft. Myers, FL  33907
•   Thursday, May 10   6 pm – 8 pm   New Life Assembly, 5146 Leonard Blvd. S, Lehigh,
FL  33973
•   Thursday, May 10   6 pm – 8 pm  Zion Lutheran, 7401 Winkler Rd., Ft. Myers, FL
33907
•   Saturday, May 12   10 am – 12 pm   RCMA Classroom, 402 W. Main St., Immokalee,
FL  34142
•   Thursday, May 17   6 pm – 8 pm   Kids Connection, 2691 NE Pine Island Rd., Cape
Coral, FL  33909
•   Thursday, May 17   6 pm – 8 pm    First Baptist Presbyterian Social Hall, 330 N. Main
St., Labelle, FL  33975

Florida is home to more than one million children younger than five.  Of these, approximately 750,000 attend some type of early education program. Through the non-profit public / private partnership efforts of the Early Learning Coalition of Southwest Florida, over 12,000 children are served by approximately 400 providers.    

Dr. Kathleen Reynolds, CEO of the Early Learning Coalition, said that high quality early learning is the beginning of the talent supply chain for Florida’s future workforce. “Child care and early learning providers work every school day to insure that students have the skill and knowledge that will allow them to be successful. We appreciate Governor Scott’s recognition of this group that is so important to our state’s future economy.”

“Studies show that as much as 85 percent of the brain development occurs between birth and 5 years of age,” stated Dr. Mel Jurado, Director of Florida’s Office of Early Learning.  “High quality early learning experiences ensure emotional, physical, social and intellectual development for Florida’s youngest and most vulnerable children.”  Jurado went on to say, “It is an honor to partner with passionate professionals dedicated to supporting Florida’s quality early learning education programs.”  

National Provider Appreciation Day was started in 1996 by a group of volunteers in New Jersey who saw the need to recognize the tireless efforts of providers who care for children of working parents.  Momentum and support for this event has grown each year.  To learn more about Provider Appreciation Day or for ideas of how you can thank your child care provider, visit http://www.ProviderAppreciationDay.org.