Early Care and Education Consortium Report

On behalf of Early Care and Education Consortium/NCCA members, this is what I have so far. We have had many members impacted and other companies gratefully unaffected, but contributions to the relief efforts are across the board. The ECEC was going to do a fundraising effort but found that the larger companies were participating and active within their own companies. Here is what I know:

1. Early Care and Education Consortium has made a contribution to American Red Cross along with encouragement by ECEC/NCCA to its members to contribute to the Red Cross.
2. New Horizons has had two centers destroyed on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and is mounting efforts there to help staff and families.
3. Knowledge Learning has 21 centers destroyed (that was the last I heard) and 400 employees affected. Knowledge Learning Corp has established an employee relief fund and has partnered with the Red Cross to give employees, families and vendors an opportunity to contribute in that manner.
4. Nobel Learning Communities has mounted a relief effort and a matching fundraising program for victims.
5. Learning Care Group also has internal giving programs and have staff volunteering at the Texas Astrodome.
6. Bright Horizons has made significant contributions to help employees and families in the area. They also were able to evacuate their last team of teachers and directors last Wednesday. These teams had been caring for children around the clock since Sunday at their hospital based programs.
7. Primrose Schools Children Foundation has made a substantial contribution to the American Red Cross for relief efforts.
8. Members of the Consortium are working together and with legal and licensing authorities to find a way to hire people who need jobs. Evacuees are looking for work but many have no ability to produce references or important and necessary documentation usually used to substantiate employment.