Annual Report
2017-2018
200 West 11th Street
Erie, PA 16501
(814) 874-0144
Dear Reader,
Each day, when directors, teachers, and staff walk into Early Connections’ centers, we look forward to the day
because we know we will watch wonderful things happen. Some days will be noisy and messy, and others will be
quieter and maybe even tidy! The children in our classrooms will make friends, they will negotiate, they will ask
questions, they will grow, they will learn something new, they will discover something that interests them. We
are here to guide children on that journey, to help them succeed and be excited by what they are learning.
We partner with our families and our community partners to provide children with the best possible
experiences during these early years. Together, we can develop every child’s love of learning and help each
child find the path to success throughout school. We look ahead to the wonderful future each child can have!
In this report, we focus on Early Connections’ work and activities throughout the 2017-2018 year, not only
within our organization but in cooperation with families, friends, and our community. We pledge to continue
our commitment to support young children and their families through leadership, advocacy, and quality
programs in early childhood education!
Thank you for your interest in Early Connections!
Sincerely,
Darlene E. Kovacs, Executive Director
Board of Directors
2017-2018
Board President
Laura Schaaf
Barber National Institute
Board Vice President
Michael Plazony
Kemper Home Service Co.
Board Secretary
John VanTassel
ERIEBANK
Board Treasurer
Lori M Hetrick
Village at Luther Square
Jacqui Catrabone
Strategy Solutions
Sarah Howard
Wellspring of Life LLC
Katie Jones
ERIEBANK
Michael Thomas, Esq.
MacDonald Illig Jones & Britton
Dr. Janet Wojtalik
Former Special Education
teacher, School Administrator,
and Author
Administrative Staff
Darlene E. Kovacs
Executive Director
Michelle Harkins
Associate Executive Director
Family Support Program
Supervisor
Matt Turek
Vice President of Finance
Tracy Robison Chandler
Vice President of Professional
Development
Kimberly Beers
Vice President
of Outreach/Success By 6
Erie’s Future Fund Scholarship
Director
Holly Platte
Vice President of Human Resources
Abby Perry
Family Support Case Manager
Jayne Deutsch
Administrative Assistant
Early Care and Education Directors
Maggie Heslop
Nancy Dahlquist
Early Connections, City Center
Carlie Eck
Early Connections, Union City
Kate Beer
Early Connections, Housing
Authority of the City of Erie
Stephanie King
Early Connections, West Side
Stephanie McIntosh
Early Connections, North East
Maggie Jaraczewski
Early Connections, West Ridge
The research clearly demonstrates high-quality early childhood
opportunities help children succeed.
~ Tim Kaine
About Us
For over 100 years, Early Connections has provided programming for young children and families, and we are
dedicated to providing high-quality early learning opportunities for the young learners in our centers. We take
pride in our history in our community and recognize the accomplishment of over a century of dedication and hard
work. However, we never lose focus on the future and we continue to engage in planning and partnerships that will
move Early Connections forward in our service to the community. We recognize the emerging concerns of new
families in Erie County, and strive to meet the early education needs of an increasingly-diverse population.
Administrators and staff are alert to new opportunities, new research, and current trends in the field of child care
and education.
Currently, Early Connections provides quality Keystone STARS 3 and 4-level programming at six sites in the City of
Erie, Union City, and North East. STARS is a quality rating system used by Pennsylvania to provide a framework for
quality early childhood programming based on specific standards, with one STAR being entry level in the system
and four STARS being the highest quality. STARS sets requirements for early childhood programs to promote the
best and safest learning environment possible for children. This type of high-quality environment contributes to a
child’s overall success. In February, 2018, Early Connections opened a new center in Fairview to better serve the
West County area, and this location operates using STAR 4 standards while moving through the STARS process.
Early Connections’ staff are competent and qualified, and each person has a heart for helping young children
develop and learn. As a result, children in our classrooms experience developmentally-appropriate learning
activities, from infancy through school-age, which fulfill the PA Early Learning Standards and are also engaging
and interesting to young learners. Children's learning and development is supported through high quality
programming, utilizing years of evidence-based research that supports long-term positive impacts on a child
(http://www.highscope.org). Unfortunately, as has been reported for several years, young children in Erie County
are considered "high risk" for early school failure (OCDEL Reach and Risk Report). Quality early childhood
education provides a positive long-lasting effect on a child’s educational and economic future, in turn helping
improve their community’s economy and future workforce (http://www.readynation.org).
We look back at all we have built throughout our history, but we are focused on the future and moving forward to
fulfill our mission by helping young children and families find success. As a result, we collaborate with many
organizations throughout Erie County, including:
Erie Public Schools
Iroquois School District
Union City Area School District
North East School District
Housing Authority of the City of Erie
United Way of Erie County
Early Connections participates in:
North East Community Helping in Learning and Development (N.E.CHILD)
Erie Coalition for a Trauma Informed Community
Nonprofit Partnership Executive Directors Forum
Erie Together
Union City Roundtable
Union City Family Support Center
Erie County Office of Children and Youth
NAMI
4 N.I.N.E.
Northwest Tri-county Intermediate Unit 5
Northwest Regional Key, Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC)
Early Connections has an agreement with these organizations to help provide early care and education for children
experiencing homelessness or similar challenges:
Erie United Methodist Alliance (EUMA)
Mercy Center for Women
Erie Family Center
We welcome questions regarding our work, and invite you to read our Annual Report in the pages that follow.
Early Connections is truly dedicated to creating lifelong learners through exciting and engaging programs!
Early Care & Education
Providing early care and education
programming for children ages 6 weeks
to 12 years
Quality early learning programs for 300+ children ● 7 locations
including 1 in North East and 1 in Union City ● Licensed by PA Dept.
of Human Services ● Participates in Keystone STARS ● Inclusive
classrooms at two centers ● Free meals which consist of breakfast,
lunch and snack (The USDA Nondiscrimination Statement can be found
at https://www.fns.usda.gov/fns-nondiscrimination-statement) ●
Creative Curriculum used in all classrooms ● Accept Child Care Works
● Parent and Community Involvement ● Summer Camp
Pre-K Counts (PKC)
State-funded Pre-K program for
at-risk children who are between
age 3 and younger than the age for
entry into kindergarten
Free, five half-days a week high
quality preschool - kindergarten
readiness program ● 215 children
participated during the 2017/18 school
year ● 6 Early Connections locations
plus 1 classroom in partnership with
Iroquois Elementary School
Early Connections Pre-K Counts
students exploring the world at the
Tom Ridge Environment Center
Pop Pop’s Pantry
Addressing food insecurity -
Nutrition assistance
Provides supplemental meals for low income families unable to
access pantries that are open during work hours ● 171 bags of food
distributed ● Available to all eligible City Center families ● In
partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank
Community Innovation
Zone (CIZ)
Supported Playgroups (SPGs)
for families and caregivers
Families enjoying a Supported Playgroup
field trip to the Erie Zoo
Participants learn to be their child’s first teacher ● Developmentally
appropriate activities to promote readiness for success in school ●
Provide a better understanding of school procedures and expectations
● Resources and referrals ● Opportunity to network ● Supported an
early learning symposium spearheaded by the Union City Family
Support Center to highlight the importance of collaboration between
school and service agencies beginning prenatally through grade three
● 3 year grant funded through PA’s Race To the Top Early Learning
Challenge Program, administered by Early Connections with United
Way as the lead agency ● Partners included the Iroquois School
District, the International
Institute, YMCA of Greater
Erie, and the Union City
Family Support Center
● Activities included
visiting the Children’s
Museum in Erie, the
Pittsburgh Museum, and
the Erie Zoo
Supported Playgroups provide families
with a fun environment to learn together.
Family Support
Engaging families in their
children's learning
Able to serve 20 children and their families at a time ● Quality
early learning, before and after school care ● Activities for the
entire family ● Infant through school-age, on a full-time basis
● Funded through a contract with Erie County Department of
Human Services (DHS)
Erie's Future Fund
Preschool Scholarship program
administered by Early Connections
for economically-challenged
families throughout Erie County
Look at what we built! All the while we were
learning about problem solving, cooperation,
math, creativity and so much more.
150 scholarship opportunities for qualified
children from low-income families
● Scholarships accepted at 40+ highquality
early care and education program locations in Erie
County ● Part-time summer scholarships offered for up to 50
scholars over an 11 week period ● Scholarship options: 3 or 5
half days a week during the school year ● Open enrollment
deadline allows families to access the program beyond the start
of the school year ● Provide educational resources and support
during the application process ● Scholarships are funded from
within Erie County through individual
donations, Pre-K Earned Income
Tax Credits, and cause-related
marketing
Erie’s Future Fund was created in 2011,
an outgrowth of the Erie Community
Foundation’s Early Childhood Advisory
Panel in partnership with United Way of
Erie County, Success By 6, members of the
Early Learning Investment Commission
and Erie Together.
United Way Success By 6
(SB6)
Success By 6, United Way of Erie
County's Early Care and Education
initiative, is a community
collaborative of professionals from a
wide range of organizations.
Sack races! Just one of the many fun activities to try during the 9th
annual Pre-K Counts Awareness Day event
Celebrated 15 years serving the Erie Community and helping prepare their children for Kindergarten ● Focuses
on the needs of young children and their families through the work of several SB6 committees: Maternal Child
Health Task Force, Erie County Early Learning Professionals, and Pre-K Counts, as well as in partnership with the
Erie County Local Inter-agency Coordinating Council ● 12th Annual Success By 6 Early Learning Expo: 65
families including 112 children, 35 local agency exhibits, hands-on activities, live entertainment, and educational
materials. Each child received a book courtesy of Hooked On Books for Kids Erie ● 9th Annual Pre-K Counts
Awareness Day: 700 preschoolers and their teachers from Erie County Pre-K Counts programs took part in a
variety of educational activities and games at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center
● Children Do Come with Directions booklets: 5000+ booklets have been distributed
in the past 2 years. We plan to update the booklet for reprinting in 2019.
United Way
Erie Free Taxes
Free tax preparation services through the
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
Program (VITA) to assist eligible low and
moderate income wage-earners to claim
the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).
Free tax preparation service provided by IRS-certified volunteers
at numerous locations throughout Erie County
2018 FILING SEASON RESULTS
● Federal VITA Returns: 6,248
● Claims (incl in above total): 2,136
● Returns: 616
● Total Returns: 6,864
● Refund Total: $10.9M
● Tax Filer Savings (est.): $1.8M
Contributors
Quite simply, our work would not be possible without the support of the community. The following individuals
and organizations made contributions to support the work of Early Connections. Each gift directly and positively
affected a child’s life. Thank you!
4 N.I.N.E.
American Legion Post 237
Bayhurst Family Trust
Boscov's
Britton Family Foundation
Campbell Pottery Store
Chipotle Mexican Grill
Darlene Kovacs
Dr. Paul and Darlene Kovacs
East Erie Moose Family Center
Erie Community Foundation
Erie Community Foundation - Erie Gives Day
Erie Experience Vinyl
Erie Insurance
ERIEBANK
Fire Pitt Pizza Erie
Greater Giving Online
Holly Platte
Hooked on Books
Jacqueline Catrabone
Jamie Schumacher
Jessen Media
JJHT, Inc.
John Krol VFW Post 6773
John W. Alberstadt Jr.
Joseph and Brenda Comstock
Katie Jones
Erie's Future Fund
Preschool Scholarship Fund
administered by Early Connections
American Tinning and Galvanizing
CA Curtze Company
Erie Community Foundation-Erie Gives Day
Erie Insurance
ERIEBANK
JAM PHD Inc.
Lilly Broadcasting of PA LLC
Math-U-See dba Demme Learning
Scott's Corp. Services Inc.
Scott's Development Company
UPMC Health Plan
We have made every effort to list all
grants, contributions and gifts
received during the period July 1,
2017 through June 30, 2018. We
apologize for any errors or omissions
and ask you to contact Early
Connections Administrative Offices
at 814-874-0144 with corrections.
Kiwanis Club of Erie
La Nuova Aurora Society of Erie, PA
Larry Lechtner
Lori Hetrick
Maria's Pizza
Mayer Bro. Construction
Michael and LeeAnn Thomas
Michael Plazony
Michelle Harkins
MnM Treasures
Plazony Family Foundation
Presque Isle Downs and Casino
Sarah Howard
Sean and Kimberly Beers
South Erie Turners
Stan Zlotkowski III
State Representative Flo and Vicki Fabrizio
State Representative Pat and Michelle Harkins
Sunflower Club
Times Publishing Company
Tracy Robison Chandler
UPMC Health Plan
Vicary Insurance Agency
Victoria Fabrizio
WM T. Spaeder Co.
Z3 Concepts
Neighborhood Assistance Program
Through the Department of Community and Economic
Development’s Neighborhood Assistance Program, UPMC
Health Plan received tax credits for their gift to Early
Connections, which helped purchase The Creative Curriculum
for infants, toddlers and preschool. This high-quality
curriculum for now readily accessible to every Early
Connections classroom.
Jennifer Weigold-Geertson, Senior Manager of Community Relations at UPMC
Health Plan (center of photo in green) and the Early Connections staff at our
training on the use of The Creative Curriculum in our classrooms
Erie Downtown Partnership
Early Connections was one of the downtown businesses that
proudly received a $2,595 Façade Improvement Grant from
the Erie Downtown Partnership. This grant will help provide
the funds needed to replace the windows on the State Street
side of our City Center location, 704 State Street. An additional
grant helped provide security cameras at this location.
Fiscal Report July 2017-June 2018
Accredited Under the Pennsylvania Association
Nonprofit Organizations’ Standards for Excellence®
Early Connections is a 501(c)3 nonprofit
organization -contributions to which are
tax deductible to the fullest extent
permitted by law. The official
registration and financial information of
Early Connections may be obtained from
the Pennsylvania Department of State by
calling toll-free, within Pennsylvania,
1-800-732-0999. Registration does not
imply endorsement.
Early Connections is proud to be able to display this
Seal of Excellence awarded by the Pennsylvania
Association of Nonprofit Organizations. Early
Connections is one of two nonprofit organizations
in this region to be awarded accreditation under the
Standards for Excellence® program, which is
bestowed only to the most well-managed and
responsibly governed nonprofit organizations that
have demonstrated continued compliance with 56
specific Standards for Excellence® based on
honesty, integrity, fairness, respect, trust, responsibility,
and accountability. Early Connections has
met, complied with, and integrated the Standards
for Excellence® into all its activities to successfully
complete this voluntary accreditation program.
Early Connections
City Center
704 State Street
Erie, PA 16501
(814) 456-4576
Early Connections
West Side
420 West 6th Street
Erie, PA 16507
(814) 456-5346
Early Connections
Harbor Homes
1841 East 18th Street
Erie, PA 16510
(814) 899-3310
Early Connections
John E Horan Garden Apartments
730 Tacoma Road
Erie, PA 16511
(814) 454-9713
Early Connections
North East
50 E Division Street
North East, PA 16428
(814) 315-2915
Early Connections
Union City
16380 Route 8
Union City, PA 16438
(814) 438-7016
www.earlyconnectionserie.org
www.facebook.com/earlyconnectionsinc
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