Opening Doors

2012 ANNUAL REPORT Opening doors Downtown Hampton CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER CAPTION CAPTION CAPTION BOARD OF DIRECTORS Playing under a parachute is a favorite outdoor activity among 2011-2012 the children. Our curriculum focuses on developing children’s social, emotional, intellectual and physical skills, all of which PRESIDENT are needed for success in school and in life. Ted Henifin General Manager, Hampton Roads Sanitation District Come Inside! VICE PRESIDENT Tiffany Andrews-Franklin Marriott Our Mission SECRETARY Deborah Russell To nurture young children by providing affordable, Prevention Programs Administrator, Hampton Healthy Families Partnership quality preschool programs that develop the TREASURER “whole child” and foster school readiness Gail Gammon Administrative Director, DHCDC PARENT REPRESENTATIVE Amy Jordan From The President City of Hampton Economic Development EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Jaynelle Oehler William C. Andrews, IV Read Commercial Properties Polly Chong, Esq. Dear Friends, Attorney Walter Credle In last year’s annual report I included a quote from William Former Director, Hampton Dept of Social Services Butler Yeats: “Education is not filling a pail but lighting a fire.” Lawrence G. Cumming, Esq. Attorney, Kaufman & Canoles While the fire I referenced was purely metaphorical, little did The Hon. Linda Curtis, Esq. I know how prophetic those words would become, less than Former Commonwealth’s Attorney six months later. On January 16, 2012, a real fire ignited and Jenn Devlin destroyed two offices and caused considerable smoke and Junior League of Hampton Roads water damage throughout our Mary Peake facility. Thankfully, Cheryl Elkins no one was in the building at the time and no one was injured Vice President, TowneBank responding to the fire. The response to this disaster was James Gray Assistant City Manager amazing. DHCDC could not have recovered without a strong community of supporters. Robert R. Harper Jr. Bob Harper Photography As has happened throughout the history of DHCDC, our Haywood Holder community of staff, parents, partners and friends mobilized Retired, Sentara Health Systems to get us back in the business of developing children in a Gaylene Kanoyton matter of days. Like new growth in a forest after a fire, the Gaylene’s Events outpouring of support created a burst of renewed energy to The Rev. John Knibb, Jr. Pastor carry us through the most successful fundraising breakfast in Henry “Hank” Lewis our history. While bursts of energy are wonderful, our success Zel Technologies relies on the sustained energy of our community of supporters. The Hon. Mamie Locke Our mission of developing the whole child returns State Senator/Dean of the School of Education, Hampton University tremendous benefits to the child, the family and the Henry Mills community. The benefits of early childhood development Senior Vice President, Hampton Regional have been known for years, as Frederick Douglass noted in Executive Officer, Old Point National Bank the 1800s, “It is easier to build strong children than to repair Sarah Phillips Community Volunteer broken men.” Col. Anthony D. Reyes With your support, together we will continue to build Hampton Public Works Director strong children and a strong organization. Thanks for Ruth Simmons all the doors you have opened for Owner, The Virginia Store the children of DHCDC. The Hon. Chris Stuart Top Guard Security Hampton City Council Member Amy Thorstad Realtor, Abbitt Realty Co. Ann Tormey Community Volunteer Mary Wallace Community Volunteer Ted Henifin Stan Winarski President, Community Volunteer Board of Directors F. Lewis Wood President, Hampton Chevrolet Mazda 2 Downtown Hampton Keep up with the children’s latest news at www.dhcdc.org 3 CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER Achieved over 700 hours of 5. teacher training and education Doors7 things You accomplished Opened this year through your support Provided affordable, 1. quality care and education for more than 200 deserving children Had our most successful 6. fundraiser ever for the children, with UVA Coach Mike London as keynote speaker. Sent more than 110 children into kindergarten 2. with the skills to succeed Succeeded in becoming a candidate for 3. national accreditation (NAEYC) in our newest location, Mary Peake. Offered 20 family-involvement events 7. and 6 parenting workshops Persevered through a 4. fire and reopened within one week, We are a military family. Without DHCDC, my daughter would thanks to overwhelming “ not have been able to attend a preschool because our family community support. could not have afforded it. My daughter’s life would be different because she would not have a head start on learning the basics of her kindergarten education. ” - Peyton’s Mom I like DHCDC’s small classes and highly qualified teachers. My “ grandson has not missed out on anything, considering he has an IEP and sickle-cell disease. His teachers are able to get him caught up even when he is not present at school. He has mastered almost all of the skills to prepare him for kindergarten. If it had not been for DHCDC, I don’t think he would be ready. ” - André’s Grandma 4 Downtown Hampton Keep up with the children’s latest news at www.dhcdc.org 5 CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER Meet the children Sisters with different needs find same joy in preschool Adah and Ella’s Story As told by their mom Prior to having children, my husband and I always talked about how we didn’t want to send our children to daycare because we thought it was a place where your child “gets lost in the crowd” and “no personal care.” Yet when we moved to Virginia in 2008, we had no choice but to enroll 11-month-old Adah in a local daycare. We are working parents, both at Langley Air Force Base. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN Life changed for us a year later, when Adah was diagnosed with Rett THEY LEAVE DHCDC? Syndrome, a neurological disorder that affects gross and fine motor skills, as Joshua, age 12 well as communication. She had just learned to walk, at age 2. By this time Ella plays in the housekeeping center. The child of a single mother we were changing daycares multiple who worked long hours at times, as we saw our daughter lost child and involve her in all activities. Since Adah first began, we’ve seen 7-Eleven to support him, in her own world, with teachers who didn’t understand Adah. her participate in pretend play, chase DHCDC alum Xavier spends a moment with sister Jade at the science center in Mrs. Dryden’s class, before heading to kindergarten. Joshua came to DHCDC There aren’t too many centers that her friends to get a ball, participate displaying frequent temper will accept a child with special needs. in several field trips, and take part in the infamous holiday pageant... tantrums. Then I came across DHCDC’s website, and it seemed too good to be true! We these were moments my husband were blessed to get both Adah and and I thought we would never get to Giving works both ways But a year in Mrs. Brylewski’s experience with our daughter. 4-year-old class changed her baby sister Ella into the program. Eight months later, Adah (now 4) Beyond her educational and social Xavier and Jade’s Story these negative behaviors, and is a different child. Not only have the needs, Adah receives speech therapy As told by their mom donor to sponsor our family and brought us a carload of he arrived at kindergarten a students and teachers accepted her, through DHCDC’s unique program Christmas presents. I remember to this day the expression but they engage with her as a typical with Hampton University’s Speech- Our family has something in common with you. We love to on Xavier’s face when he got his first Spider-Man bike and different boy. Now almost a Language Department. GIVE. My husband gave six years to our country as a Marine. Jade’s reaction when teenager, Joshua is an honor As for 2-year-old Ella, this was her Then he gave to our community as a Habitat employee. she unwrapped her first daycare experience, starting My own job is running a shelter for homeless families. But Baby Alive. “ We live frugally, roll student who comes back at 18 months. She was already on devoting our lives to nonprofit work means a big financial Last October, when shop at thrift stores... every year during report track with milestones, but I must sacrifice. We live frugally, shop at thrift stores... but one place my hours were reduced but one place card season to proudly show say her development (socially and we do NOT have to compromise is child care! at work as a result of we do NOT have to cognitively) is exponential. She I first visited DHCDC before I even had children—I was budget cuts, the DHCDC his good grades to Mrs. comes home singing! helping a family at the shelter and brought them to DHCDC staff quickly responded compromise is Brylewski. On each visit, he Our feeling regarding daycares has for a tour. I was so impressed! The staff, the facility, the sliding by lowering our tuition child care! “ gives her one of his signature definitely transformed. The learning scale... so when it was time to put my first baby in child care, on the sliding scale. A environment DHCDC fosters is a there was only one choice for me! month later, my husband hugs and reminisces about parent’s dream, and they have a unique EVERY day, my children have been excited to go there. had a stroke. Half his body was paralyzed. When people at his time at DHCDC. connection to the City of Hampton They even ask to go on weekends! It speaks volumes.

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