employees are ramping up their fundraising for a Hightstown preschool that provides childcare for low-income families as its annual charity gala approaches.
is a nonprofit, accredited program that serves 99 kids in Hightstown and East Windsor.
Better Beginnings Executive Director Luz Horta said this past year government funding has been cut and they are raising money to help subsidize the costs for parents.
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CBSI, which is a Hightstown business that provides range of insurance, HR and investment consulting services to other businesses, reaches out daily to the businesses and organizations they work with to help secure sponsorships for the 20th Annual Mayors’ Shining Star Charity Gala, said Eddy Murphy, business development at CBSI.
“We look for people every year that we can help out somewhere,” Murphy said. “That was our goal - to help.”
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East Windsor’s mayor, Janice Mironov, and Hightstown’s mayor, Steve Kirson, honor local businesses and organizations for their volunteerism and generosity at the gala.
This year’s fundraising goal is set at $40,000, compared to past year’s $18,000 goal. To date, Better Beginnings is at about 40 percent to their goal, Murphy said.
Recently PNC Bank contributed $4,000 and McGraw Hill gave another $500.
Horta said their new slogan, “Shaping Minds When Time Matters Most,” describes how children’s minds are being shaped the most from birth to age five. The school encourages hands-on learning, and emphasizes nutrition.
“It’s a hand up not a hand out,” Horta said.
Most of the students are bilingual and throughout the year student progress is tracked through three formal evaluations, Horta said. The curriculum is in line with the New Jersey education standards so when students are ready to enter public school, they are at the same level as other students.
While monetary donations can always be put to use for things such as supplies, operating expenses and equipment, Better Beginnings has always welcomed anything people were willing to give. Other donations have ranged from helping upgrade the playground or paying for a field trip, to donating gloves and hats.
For more information on donating, contact the Executive Director Luz Nereida Horta at 609-448-6226 or bbluzz@hotmail.com
To become a sponsor for the charity gala, click on the PDF on the right.
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