Happy New Year from all of us here at Reach Dane!
Within this first week of the new year and winter programming, we were met with the difficult decision to extend winter break until January 5 and implement virtual programming in our part-year programs until January 18 to wait out the high community COVID rates. Although we follow the MMSD scheduling, we are uniquely tasked with this decision because none of our enrolled children are eligible for vaccinations against COVID-19, being under 5-years-old. We continue to hold the health and wellbeing of staff and children as our highest priority as we move forward.
After the memorable giving programs and an end-of-year bustle, we are still breathing deep and looking out for one another. We have much to be thankful for in this new year ahead and look forward to sharing more with you, our caring community!
We hope you are taking good care!
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Each giving season Reach Dane brings the magic of gift-giving into the hands of enrolled parents through the Giving Tree Program. This program is the centerpiece of the giving-season-table thanks to the staff, volunteers, and shoppers who make this magic happen!
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All 429 Reach Dane families (over 1200 children) that registered with us received toys for their families just in time for the holiday season. The Marriott-Madison West graciously lent their conference center for the entire three-day giveaway event. The toy sorting and pick-up was a fun way to connect with families, thanks to the Reach Dane staff, Marines, and volunteers from the following groups:
Humana
Monarch Signs
Marriott-Madison West
Starbucks- Greenway Blvd, Middleton
To all who donated to this year's Toys for Tots program, we couldn't have done it without you-- THANK YOU!
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For Giving Tuesday this year, we designated any general donations to Reach Dane to the HSPC Emergency Fund from November 30-December 10.
The HSPC Emergency Fund is a flexible fund for the urgent needs of the families we serve that are living through poverty.
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Food Security- Purchase grocery store vouchers to provide security & choices for families in what they would like to eat as well as the ability to purchase foods that are representative of their culture.
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Housing- Provides emergency hotel stays for families experiencing homelessness, prevents evictions and utility bills from being shut off. Housing stability is key to a family’s well-being and a child’s readiness for school.
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Transportation- Purchase bus passes and authorize cab rides to ensure children get to school and parents get to their educational or employment locations.
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Marshall High School Toy Drive |
The daughter of a Reach Dane teacher organized a toy drive with her classmates at Sun Prairie High School to help brighten the holidays of Marshall Head Start kiddos! Thanks to these thoughtful students, 50 toys went out this week!
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For this year's giving season, Nordic adopted five families! The families received gift cards from Walmart, Target, and grocery and gas cards. Additionally, they gave the kids from the adopted families 2-3 toys each.
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We are excited to share that guests at Target stores cast 92,644 votes to Reach Dane! That means Target is awarding Reach Dane $1,668.45.
Most importantly, that means that local Target shoppers cast their vote towards our mission and the impact we have on the community.
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We are pleased to announce that QBE recently donated $12,500 to Reach Dane through their program, WIN-Women's Initiative Network. QBE believes that qualified women should have equal access to growth, development, and advancement opportunities within the organization. The funds from QBE are specifically focused on supporting economic independence for women.
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Thank you to everyone who donated to support the continuation of our mission and grow our programming!
Whether you participate as a volunteer or donor in our Giving Tree and Toys for Tots program, donate directly to our program, hold an independent giving drive, or share our services with your neighbor, your support is deeply valued.
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Partnership & Community News |
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Foundation for Black Women's Wellness |
Congratulations to the recently awarded Foundation for Black Women's Wellness for their grant to improve Black maternal and infant health. Reach Dane is a proud partner of this awarded work and we encourage you to read the plans of the awarded eight organizations. |
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Eight community organizations awarded grants to improve...
The Wisconsin Partnership Program (WPP) at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH) announced eight new grant awards totaling $1.2 million on Monday to support community organizations working to improve maternal and infant health...
Read more
madison365.com
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This powerful video launch is Jan 20th for 6-7 virtually supported by the Madison Public Library.
This 3-min. trailer shares stories of two mothers who describe their agonies of homelessness. HEAR US interviewed families in Dane County, WI about their experiences of homelessness. These families are "Not Homeless Enough" to qualify for housing assistance from HUD funds.
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250th Book with Madison Reading Project |
Madison Reading Project donated their 250,000th book to our Family Engagement Manager, Ashley, for our Giving Tree Program! We are so grateful to have been a recipient of this milestone- congratulations Madison Reading Project!
Photo Credit: Madison Reading Project
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Due to COVID cases surging and updates coming out from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Public Health Dane & Madison, our health team is continuously revisiting programming changes around testing, quarantining, and daily practices such as masking, tooth brushing, eating, drinking, and napping. We have needed to close classrooms and even close down at the site level, at multiple sites. Staffing will remain an issue agency-wide because of positive COVID cases, quarantining, and being at home with their children as virtual learning resumes. |
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Family Service Provider of Fall 2021 Quarter |
Congratulations to our Family Services Provider of the Fall 2021 Quarter...Paola! We loved reading through the nominations that came in! |
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Our East Madison and Stoughton classrooms received new flooring to replace carpeting that way fraying and bubbling up due to decades of deep cleaning and playtime. The new wood flooring also helps ease staff concerns of floor sanitization during COVID-19.
Carpets Plus completed the work at our East Madison Site and Walgenmeyer's Carpet and Tile for our Stoughton Site. Both locations look beautiful and were a major upgrade!
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With the support of the MadREP Main Street Bounce Back Grant award, our Great Beginnings Sun Prairie (GBSP) renovation is underway in a newly purchased building. The GBSP team will move into this new site from a rented home that is for sale. This new site will have ample green space compared to its current location. The AM/PM class that is on Linnerud Drive will also move into this building in Fall 2022. We are excited about our Sun Prairie team and the two sites to come together! |
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Reach Dane changes the lives of underserved children and families through education and supportive services. |
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