On May 5, 2017, the Jefferson Chamber, in conjunction with Jefferson Parish, hosted a Head Start Fundraiser with the New Orleans Baby Cakes. Attendees of all ages experienced food, fun and a baseball game against the Iowa Cubs!
This was not only just a fun night at the ballpark. The event also benefitted a great cause, the Head Start program. Head Start is a Federal program that promotes the school readiness of children from birth to age five from low-income families by enhancing their cognitive, social, and emotional development. Head Start programs provide a learning environment that supports children’s growth in many areas such as language, literacy, and social and emotional development. The Head Start program emphasizes parents as their child’s first and most important teacher. The Head Start programs help build relationships with families, while also supporting family well-being.
In Jefferson Parish, the Jeff CAP Head Start preschool program serves more than 560 children ages 3-5, and the newly expanded Early Head Start program serves approximately 28 pregnant women and 108 infants and toddlers up to 35 months in age. The CAP Head Start preschool program is a full day, center based program in Jefferson Parish. Children with disabilities are also welcome to attend the program with reasonable accommodations made to ensure their success. The Jeff CAP Head Start birth through age five program’s primary goal is to have a positive impact on the children and families of Jefferson Parish.
The Jefferson Chamber Foundation was honored to present two checks totaling $29,766 to the Head Start program in October 2017 from the funds raised through the Head Start Fundraiser with the New Orleans Babycakes. The funds will remain in Jefferson Parish and will be used to fund Head Start programs while continuing to foster the Head Start program’s mission to “Help People, Change Lives and Build Community!”
