 | | | | Catch-23: Ensuring effective investments in child care -- Jerry Cutts, president and CEO
6/1/2010 2:20 PM
Here at First Children’s Finance Research and Development department, we are working day and night. (Yes, we are a nonprofit organization, and yes, we do have a research and development department that has spawned all of our programs and approaches.). We have been working for 20 years with business leaders, philanthropy, early education leaders, state and local governments and many others to attack the problem families are facing -- finding and affording quality early care and education.
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First Children’s announces the innovation awards
6/1/2010 2:00 PM
Each day 1000s of child care providers work miracles managing and growing their businesses. First Children’s is recognizing child care businesses and leaders in the field of early care and education in Minnesota (Twin Cities), Michigan (Detroit) and Iowa (Cedar Valley) who exemplify creativity in the business of child care. For the first time in 2010, First Children’s will select and honor two creative and innovative leaders in each of the three markets to receive the First Children’s Finance Innovation Award. The nominations are due June 25, 2010, at 5 p.m. Read more... |
Now accepting applications for the Minnesota Growth Fund: Class 5
6/1/2010 1:37 PM
First Children’s Finance is pleased to announce we are now accepting applications for our 2010 Growth Fund class in the Twin Cities metro area.
The Growth Fund is a program to help nonprofit child care centers become stronger, improve quality and serve more families. The Growth Fund combines grants with the business help child care center directors need to identify and tackle their most critical business challenges. We select nonprofit child care centers to participate in the Growth Fund through a competitive process, with eligibility based on serving children from low and moderate income families, maintaining stable operations and providing fulltime/full year programming. Read more... |
Business Boot Camp: What’s business got to do with it
6/1/2010 1:25 PM
Adding to its array of training programs, First Children’s Finance has launched Business Boot Camp for child care center directors, managers and others wanting to know more about the business of child care. We know that few quality child care organizations can be sustainable these days without smart financing models and strategies. Now child care providers have access to an intensive learning experience to build their business skills and knowledge. Read more... |
New grants support First Children’s programs
6/1/2010 12:44 PM
The McKnight Foundation awarded First Children’s Finance a two-year grant of $1,075,000 in March 2010 highlighting the Minnesota Growth Fund, Loan Fund, business consulting and training, private sector engagement and strategic planning related to the business side of quality child care in Minnesota.
The Jay and Rose Phillips Family Foundation has awarded a one-year grant of $20,000 to continue technical assistance and training for childcare providers participating in the Parent Aware pilot project areas -- Minneapolis and the Wayzata School District. Read more... |
Family Growth Fund launches in the Twin Cities, Minnesota
6/1/2010 12:30 PM
First Children’s has Growth Fund participants in five states, and now family child care providers can be a part of this highly successful program. Growth Fund participants receive funding to complete business improvement plans and then receive consulting and financial assistance to implement those plans. Four family child care providers in Minneapolis and Saint Paul were recently selected and began their experience with an orientation on May 15. Read more... |
First Children’s, Michigan, showcased in Exchange magazine
6/1/2010 12:15 PM
Exchange, the popular child care news magazine, featured a column by Heidi Schlueter, director of state operations and development, in its spring issue. Bonnie Neugebauer, co-editor of the magazine, also blogged about the Michigan team after she visited Michigan director, Monica Duncan, and her staff. Following are links to the Exchange article and Bonnie’s blog.
http://www.childcareexchange.com/resources/view_article.php?article_id=5019364
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Iowa: Energy, excitement and growing success
6/1/2010 12:15 PM
Iowa is a state of vital communities, effective leaders and people committed to the success of children. That’s why First Children’s Finance is partnering with Iowa organizations – public and private alike – to strengthen the business of child care. Since First Children’s Iowa opened a year and a half ago, Iowa communities have rallied on behalf of their child care businesses and Iowa children and parents have benefited from increases in business strength and quality.
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Kevin Rhein, President and Business Manager, Wells Fargo Card Services
6/1/2010 12:00 PM
 Kevin Rhein is division president and business manager of Wells Fargo Card Services in Minneapolis and Des Moines, IA. He was previously head of corporate trust, president for 35 Norwest (now Wells Fargo) banking stores and held executive retail banking positions with Citicorp/Citibank. He earned his master’s degree from the University of Chicago. Kevin serves on the Federal Reserve Bank’s Consumer Advisory Committee, is involved in industry activities promoting financial literacy and serves as an external board member of the Center for Financial Services Innovation. Read more... |
Lynn Graves, Vice President, Principal Financial Group
6/1/2010 11:40 AM
 Lynn Graves is vice president with the Principal Financial Group in Des Moines, IA. She is a past chair of Women’s Leadership Initiative of United Way for Central Iowa, member of the UWCI Income Impact Cabinet and founding member of the UWCI Women’s Leadership Connection and on the Early Childhood Advisory Council. Lynn is a 2007 Iowa Women's Foundation 50% Solution Award winner and 2006 recipient of the Chrysalis Foundation HerStory Award and the Women of Influence Award.
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Barbara Simpson Epps, VP/Director of Corporate Relations
6/1/2010 11:15 AM
 Barbara (Bob-e) Simpson Epps has spent a lifetime working to enhance the operations and effectiveness of organizations in both the public and private sectors. Deeply committed to strong, healthy communities, Bob-e has used her expertise to build and sustain programs in diverse business environments. Bob-e is currently the vice president and director of corporate relations for First Children’s Finance. In her position, she is currently launching the Children’s Chamber of Commerce, an initiative to recruit business people to support First Children’s efforts to create successful, sustainable child care businesses. Read more... |
Debra Ruegg, Director of Consulting
6/1/2010 11:00 AM
 Debra Ruegg recently re-joined the First Children’s Finance staff as director of consulting. She has a long history with First Children’s first as consultant and then as First Children’s Growth Fund manager, guiding the development of this signature program. Read more... |
Angela Dalton, Video and Digital Specialist
6/1/2010 10:45 AM
 Angela Dalton comes to First Children’s Finance as a video and digital specialist, bringing with her over ten years of experience in both the film and digital industries. As a graduate of the University of Minnesota’s School of Journalism, she has crafted a career as a producer working for many established media and advertising organizations, including Twin Cities Public Television, StarTribune, Periscope and Carmichael Lynch. Bringing an excitement for all things digital, and a little of her “inner nerd,” her role at First Children’s will be to support and implement online initiatives to strengthen its digital identity and communications. |
Camarrah Morgan, Business Development Specialist, Michigan
6/1/2010 10:05 AM
 Camarrah Morgan is the business development specialist in First Children’s Michigan office. As First Children’s BDS, Camarrah advises early care and education professionals to help them enhance their management effectiveness. Camarrah previously served as director of finance and human resources at Child Care Network/Washtenaw Regional 4C (CCN) where she managed an operating budget of $1.5 million. Read more... |
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