Many thanks to our friends at Outlaw Barbecue Revolution – Jen and Cowboy Mike – your positivity and support help us take Early Connections – and our community – to a higher level!

Mr. Tom celebrated 25 years with Early Connections this week!

We could not be more blessed as an organization to have Mr. Tom on our team. He is our bus driver, our handyman, and our rock! Thank you Mr. Tom for all you do and all you have done for the children and the staff at Early Connections.

We can’t wait for 25 even more amazing years with you!!!

Our City Center preschoolers planted pinwheels at Perry Square for Child Abuse Prevention Month today!

What an exciting day! The mayor stopped by our City Center location last week to read to our preschool classes. Our preschoolers loved meeting the mayor and listening to great stories, like Kusa’s Big Surprise by Kathy Iorio!

Thanks again Mayor Schember!! We can’t wait for the next visit!

Erie mayor reads to kids at Early Connections | WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com

Thanks to our Farm to School grant, our kiddos had the chance to sample some locally made cheese! We think they liked it

Special thanks to Edinboro Market for all of their help providing the local goodies!! Thank you Marti and Curtis!

Our City Center students have loved celebrating reading during our Dr. Suess Week!

Oh, the places they’ll go!

Today our children received an early Valentine gift, courtesy of Kathy Iorio through our Board Director, Mike Visnosky. Kusa’s Big Surprise is a thoughtful book which promotes the development of self confidence and teaches the lesson that even simple acts of kindness can mean a lot. Kusa’s message is one of love, self-respect, and selflessness. The 15 copies will be distributed throughout the EC community. Kathy has been active in improving children’s lives in Erie for many years. Her focus was on children’s health and fitness through wellness programs designed for elementary school age students. Kusa is her first attempt at writing and she didn’t miss the target of helping children learning to be self-confident individuals. We understand that Kusa is available on Amazon and that a sequel will be available soon. Thanks to Kathy and Mike for thinking of Early Connections!

Early Connections is so thankful to have recently received donations to the Erie’s Future Fund Scholarship Program. On behalf of the children and families we serve through Erie’s Future Fund, Administered by Early Connections, we want to extend our gratitude and thanks to the following organizations:

Curtze Food Services

Scott Enterprises

UPMC

For over 10 years, Erie’s Future Fund is able to partner with over 40 high quality early learning centers in Erie County. We extend our sincere thanks for the generous support of businesses and friends committed to Kindergarten readiness and preschool in our region.

YOU ARE INVITED!!

Our virtual Parent Café is Wednesday January 19th from 6 to 8 pm. We will be discussing ways we can better take care of ourselves. Internet or a data plan is needed to access the Zoom link, but admission is FREE! All participants will receive a $20 gift card. Reach out to Liz for more information at 814-882-3053, lnies@earlyconnectionserie.org, or register at forms.office.com/r/HHVBz2vnu5.