Press Releases

Back to Work VA Task Force Announces Bold Goal: Promise of Quality Child Care for all Families by 2030

December 21, 2020

Richmond, VA (Dec. 18, 2020) – The Back to Work VA Task Force, created earlier this year to re-envision and sustain a more equitable child care system for Virginia, announced policy recommendations today including a bold goal that all Virginia families should have access to quality child care by 2030, regardless of their income. The Task Force included top Virginia leaders from business, government, philanthropy...

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VECF Elects Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond Research Director to Board

December 16, 2020

Richmond, VA (Dec. 16, 2020) – The Virginia Early Childhood Foundation (VECF), a statewide convener of public and private sectors to create transformative early childhood solutions for Virginia, elected Kartik B. Athreya, Ph.D., executive vice president and director of research for the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, as a new board member at VECF’s quarterly meeting on Dec. 16. As a published author in a...

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Business Leaders Explore Economics of Early Childhood and Share Strategies on Reimagining Virginia’s Child Care System

October 15, 2020

Richmond, VA (Oct. 13, 2020) – The Virginia Chamber Foundation and the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation (VECF) hosted a virtual executive briefing for statewide business leaders on “The Economics of Early Childhood: Smart Beginnings for Virginia’s Workforce Pipeline.” The event, held virtually on Oct. 13, focused on the rapidly changing early childhood landscape as Virginia continues to navigate through the COVID-19 crisis. Guest speakers for...

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Virginia Early Childhood Foundation Elects New Board Members

September 17, 2020

Richmond, Va. (Sept. 16, 2020) – The Virginia Early Childhood Foundation (VECF), a statewide convener between public and private sectors to create transformative early childhood care and education solutions for Virginia, elected five new board members at the organization’s fall board meeting on Sept. 16. Danny Avula, M.D. is the director of the Richmond City and Henrico County Health Departments. A public health physician...

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Ensuring Equity in Early Childhood Education

November 13, 2019

Richmond, Va. (Nov. 7, 2019) – More than 100 early childhood leaders from across the Commonwealth gathered in Richmond on Nov. 6-7 for the Smart Beginnings Meeting, coordinated by the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation. The Virginia Early Childhood Foundation fosters Smart Beginnings initiatives to ensure that communities across Virginia have capacity to support the good health and school readiness of young children from birth to...

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Business Leaders Explore Economics of Early Childhood and the Connection to Future Workforce

October 15, 2019

Richmond, VA (Oct. 15, 2019) – The Virginia Chamber Foundation and the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation (VECF) hosted an invitation-only luncheon and executive briefing for statewide business leaders on “The Economics of Early Childhood: Smart Beginnings for Virginia’s Workforce Pipeline.” The event, held Tuesday, Oct. 15 at the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, strengthened the growing recognition from Virginia’s business community that a strong educational start...

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Virginia Early Childhood Foundation Elects New Board Officers & Members

September 23, 2019

Richmond, Va. (Sept. 20, 2019) –The Virginia Early Childhood Foundation (VECF), a statewide public-private entity that supports early childhood development and school readiness for the Commonwealth’s youngest children, elected two new board members at the organization’s fall board meeting on Sept. 18. Todd Norris is Senior Vice President of Community Health & System Advancement with Ballad Health, an integrated healthcare delivery system serving areas of...

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Virginia Early Childhood Foundation Elects New Board Officers & Members

July 26, 2019

Richmond, Va. (July 1, 2019) – Ned W. Massee, president of Croatan Advisors, was elected for a two-year term as board chair of the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation (VECF) at the organization’s annual board meeting on June 28. Massee succeeds William “Bill” Ermatinger, executive vice president and chief human resources officer for Huntington Ingalls Industries in Newport News, Va., who will move into the position...

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Virginia Early Childhood Foundation Elects Four Board Members

April 2, 2019

Richmond, Va. (April 2, 2019) – The Virginia Early Childhood Foundation (VECF), a statewide public-private entity that supports early childhood education and school readiness for the Commonwealth’s youngest children, elected four new board members at the organization’s quarterly board meeting on March 20, 2019. The new board members who will serve a three-year term include: Toni R. Ardabell – Market President, Bon Secours Richmond Richard...

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Virginia Receives $9.9 Million Federal Preschool Development Grant to Unify and Strengthen Early Childhood Education

January 3, 2019

RICHMOND—First Lady Pamela Northam today announced that the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE), in partnership with the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation (VECF) and the University of Virginia (UVA), received a one-year $9.9 million competitive federal Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five (PDG B-5) from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families. These federal funds will be used by VDOE...

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Governor Northam Announces Third Round of Mixed-Delivery Preschool Grants

December 10, 2018

RICHMOND—Governor Northam today announced that the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation (VECF), in consultation with the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE), will award six grants to local communities that have proposed innovative approaches to expand access to high-quality preschool for at-risk children through partnerships with community-based early childhood programs. This is the third cohort of mixed-delivery grantees since 2016. Funding for the grants was included in...

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Virginia Announces New Educational Pathways for Early Childhood Teachers

November 16, 2018

RICHMOND—Governor Ralph Northam today announced that for the first time in the Commonwealth, early childhood educators will have access to a seamless pathway for earning marketable credentials in early childhood education. Now, due to regulatory changes made by the Board of Education and internal policy changes by participating community colleges and universities, early childhood educators can further their education efficiently through a streamlined pathway connecting...

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Virginia Early Childhood Foundation Releases School Readiness Report Card and Interactive Map Tool

October 23, 2018

Richmond, Va. (Oct. 24, 2018) – The Virginia Early Childhood Foundation has released the 2018 edition of Virginia’s Biennial School Readiness Report Card. While the 2016 Report Card tracked a number of indicators over a ten-year period, this edition reviews trends over the past five years in two domains – Risks and Results. The School Readiness Report Card and accompanying Interactive Map Tool (www.virginiareportcard.com) help...

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Business Leaders Explore Economics of Early Childhood and the Connection to Future Workforce

October 9, 2018

Richmond, VA (Oct. 9, 2018) – The Virginia Chamber Foundation and the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation (VECF) hosted an invitation-only luncheon and executive briefing for statewide business executives on “The Economics of Early Childhood: Smart Beginnings for Virginia’s Workforce Pipeline.” The event, held Tuesday, Oct. 9 at the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, strengthened the growing recognition from Virginia’s business community that a strong educational start...

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Virginia Early Childhood Foundation Awards Six Innovative Partnership Grants for FY19

September 17, 2018

Richmond, Va. (Sept. 17, 2018) – The Virginia Early Childhood Foundation has awarded Innovative Partnership grants to six Smart Beginnings entities that are engaged in collaborative initiatives designed to improve access to high-quality early childhood education for young children in their respective communities. First launched in 2015, Innovative Partnership grants are funded by a state appropriation to support local communities as they implement and document...

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