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Pam Perrino works as an advocate for the early childhood community.          Read her biography here.

Early Childhood Development

The Raymond John Wean Foundation focuses on enhancing and improving the quality of life in economically disadvantaged communities and neighborhoods in the Mahoning Valley. This focus extends to even the youngest of residents in those communities. The primary goal is for those children to arrive at kindergarten healthy and ready to learn.

To be successful in school and in life, the young children of the Mahoning Valley (birth through age five) must grow up in an environment that develops their self-confidence, social and emotional skills and a love for learning. The Early Childhood Development program provides grants to organizations seeking to accomplish these goals.

There are many unmet basic needs within Early Childhood Development. As a result, our grants are targeted to programs which seek to make systemic improvements in this field. The Foundation supports nonprofit organizations and public agencies committed to advancing programs, policies and practices that better the lives of young children and strengthens their families.

With this perspective on Early Childhood Development, the Foundation supports:

1. Nonprofit organizations and public agencies committed to advancing programs, policies and practices that improve the lives of your children and strengthens their families.
2. State-wide policy changes for these programs, policies and practices.
3. Professional development opportunities for child care providers.
4. Increased quality of child care centers through participation in the state-wide quality program, Step Up To Quality.
5. Improved social, emotional and behavioral health of young children.
6. Increased cognitive skills of children entering kindergarten.
7. Increased access to comprehensive health services for young children.

The Foundation encourages among its grantees:

1. Collaboration among agencies and between individuals and agencies.
2. Projects designed to effect lasting improvements and systemic change.
3. Creative alternatives that promote more just, effective solutions to the problems facing disadvantaged communities and their youngest residents.

We have two levels of funding available for qualifying organizations, each with its own grant making process — grants from $1,000 to $5,000 and grants exceeding $5,000. Visit the How to Apply page to learn more.