Taxpayer Refunds Keep Preschoolers Safe

Dec. 15, 2014 - PRLog -- The Oregon Head Start Association is proud to announce the recipients of this years Charitable Checkoff Grants. Oregon taxpayers donated $13,009.44 through their 2013 taxes to the Oregon Head Start Association. Head Start funding guidelines restrict the use of federal funds for facility and playground development. Charitable checkoff donations make these upgrades possible.

Head Start of Yamhill County has been awarded $6,607.52 to make vital safety improvements to their outdoor play areas at the Michael Eichman Center. Safety and security in the outdoor areas became an issue after the Yamhill County Transit Center was placed across the street. Playground inspections occur multiple times daily and have uncovered drug paraphernalia, adult human feces, and the destruction of property. The grant funding will be used to improve the outdoor environment, including installing an unscalable fence.

Umatilla Morrow Head Start has been awarded $6,401.92 for safety improvements in the outdoor environment at their Punkin Center, formerly an alternative high school. Projects include renovating a former skateboard path into a bike path developmentally appropriate for preschool children, installing a fence to insure children do not enter the septic drain field, and installing a sunshade.