In 2008, The Batten Educational Achievement Fund of The Hampton Roads Community Foundation granted Smart Beginnings South Hampton Roads $2.5 million to work with the five communities in our region to develop collaborative action plans over five years aimed at addressing their community's needs and implementing innovative solutions for children birth to five. Communities are eligible to receive an Early Learning Challenge Grant totaling $500,000 over five years that requires the cities to match $1 for $1.

Impact

• Four out of five communities have been awarded grants, are tracking and reporting performance-based outcomes.
• Communities are helping parents be a child's first and most important teacher by arming them with parenting resources and information, improving quality for children and providing effective preschool-kindergarten transitions.

How Can You Get Involved?

Connect With Your City:

For general information about the Early Learning Challenge Grants, contact Elizabeth Williams at 226-8826 or ewilliams@smartbeginningsshr.org.