2 • Philanthropy Journal of North Carolina
July 1995
HEALTHY
AND READY
TO SUCCEED.
On August 22 nearly 100,000 five-year-old children in North Carolina will arrive
at school for their first day of kindergarten. Most of them will think their classroom
is a wonderful and magical place. Because it is.
But some of the students will not be so fortunate. They will struggle through
kindergarten and the rest of elementary school. They will never wear a cap and
gown in any graduation ceremony.
These are the children who start out behind, for a number of reasons outside
their control. And they can't catch up, much less get ahead. Truth is, the foundation
for learning is built before a child ever enters a classroom.
The North Carolina Partnership for Children believes every child in our state
deserves the best start in life. The chance to be born healthy, and to enter school
that way. The chance to experience the true wonder of learning. The chance
to reach their full potential, whatever that potential may be.
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We also believe parents are their children's primary caregivers and teachers.
And they deserve a chance, too. The chance to secure high quality, affordable child
care. The chance to access resources to help them meet the needs of their sons and
daughters. The chance to prepare their children to succeed.
Nearly all of North Carolina's 100 counties have formed partnerships dedicated
to helping today's children and their families become strong and healthy—and thus
ensure a strong and healthy future for the state.
The catalyst for this unprecedented commitment is called Smart Start. Its impact
on families is dramatic.
The North Carolina Partnership for Children salutes the businesses, religious
communities, child care providers, nonprofits, foundations, organizations and
individuals who are working on behalf of Smart Start and other early childhood
initiatives. The future is not far away. The children are here now.
North Carolina
partnership for Children
1323 Capital Blvd. Suite 1,02 Raleigh, NC 27603 (919) 8,21-7999
Glaxo Wellcome Inc. is among the supporters of the North Carolina Partnership for Children. We urge you to discover this worthy cause along with us.