CHILD EDUCATIONAL CENTER
Joy is the simplest form of gratitude. - KARL BARTH
D
ear Friends,
At the Child Educational Center, we are filled with the joy of children every day. The joy of their curiosity, wonder, creative expression, and unique ideas inspires us and provides an opening to the profound love that connects us to them. It sparks our own natural and instinctive joy. As we review the year, we are also filled with the joy of gratitude for the many ways our friends, family, and community have generously contributed to the growth of the CEC’s vision and mission. Our hearts overflow with thanks and appreciation. Our Strategic Plan, in its second year, is an outgrowth of our commitment to nurturing each and every child daily, to reaching children beyond the CEC, and to creating rich circumstances for joyful learning and expression. The Plan is intended to strengthen the organization into the future. This past year, we saw the completion of the brand strengthening and communications portion of the Plan. During the upcoming months, the CEC’s enhanced logo and messaging will be rolled out to the community. Strategic development continues of the CEC’s four main ‘branches’ — Children’s Programs, Consultation, Research and Publications, and Professional Development — with the Board of Trustees and the Leadership Team (comprised of Program Directors and the Management Team) heading up this effort. The contributions of each and every person in our community both inspire and support our efforts. As we look forward, we are mindful that our collective accomplishments create the capacity to continue going forth boldly in the direction of our dreams. In gratitude,
Elyssa Nelson Executive Director
Kira Johnson President, Board of Trustees, 2016-17
2016-2017 ANNUAL REPORT
THE CEC:
year review in
Children’s Programs This year was a stellar year for the Child Educational Center’s (CEC) Infant-Toddler and Preschool program, which continued to experience strong patterns of enrollment across all age groups. More than 200 families were enrolled, ranging in age from 2 months through 5 years. Throughout the year, our community showed its strength and cohesiveness with hundreds of volunteers who helped build parent engagement and make the CEC a truly unique place. Our well-regarded parent education program continued to play a central role with lively discussions, parent-to-parent guidance seminars, and ongoing support provided by both our teachers and directors. The Oak Grove campus also received many physical enhancements, including new grass and a rebuilt climbing structure in the two-year-old yard. The Cooperative Preschool at Caltech (Co-op) continued with strong enrollment, with many fathers participating in the program as parent-teachers. While many families at the Co-op are part of Caltech’s postdoctoral, faculty, and graduate student communities, the program also now enrolls children from throughout the community. The CEC’s School-Age Program at the three La Cañada Unified School District sites continued to break enrollment records in 2016-17, with full enrollment. The Oak Grove and Caltech programs continued to serve children from Glendale, Pasadena and South Pasadena schools, while the Westridge and St. Bede’s programs both experienced another year of afterschool fun and learning. Summer time also meant fun and adventure for the hundreds of children enrolled (using our new online
registration program) in the CEC’s Summer Exploration Camp, which featured a myriad of great themed weeks and field trips. Our ‘Extended Summer Fun’ program at the end of the summer served incoming kindergarteners as well as elementary-aged children prior to their fall school start dates.
Consulting & Educational Services Our Consulting and Educational Services division continued to further the CEC’s mission by offering Outdoor Classroom Project® trainings, as well as consulting with child care centers all over California. The Annual Outdoor Classroom Project Conference in January 2017 had the highest attendance ever, with more than 300 educators attending, representing six states. Thanks to a generous grant from First 5 LA, free copies of our Learning Naturally DVD were distributed to Conference attendees. During the year, the Outdoor Classroom Project Demonstration Site Network in California grew to 64 centers in 8 counties. Through this Network, thousands more children benefit from the principles and practices of the natural outdoor classroom. Centers in the Network also provide inspiration and education for early childhood educators who aspire to create natural outdoor classrooms in other child care settings. At the Child Educational Center, we strive to provide a loving and caring environment where children and families can discover, learn, and experience the natural world around them. As an educational nonprofit focused on the healthy development, care, and education of young children, the CEC is dedicated to ensuring that children are celebrated and loved, their childhoods embraced, and that our mission of ‘fulfilling the promise of childhood’ will continue for future generations.
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CHILD EDUCATIONAL CENTER
our
financials
15% Administration $1,221,000 12% - Child Care Facilities $962,000
5% - Consulting & Educational Services $411,000
86% - Tuition $7,210,000
4% - In Kind Contributions $304,000
Child Educational Center Total Revenue Allocation of $8.4M 2016-2017
3% - Fundraising & Events $263,000 2% - Other Income (incl. Contract Services) $177,000
Child Educational Center Total Expense Allocation of $8.2M 2016-2017
59% - Child Care - Salaries 4,843,000
6% Child Care - Support $506,000 5% Consulting & Educational Services $443,000 2% - Fundraising Expense $183,000
REVENUES:
EXPENSES:
Our total revenues were $8,364,000. At 86% of
Total expenses were $8,159,000. Child care program salaries, at 59% of total expenses, continue to be the CEC’s largest expense due to high quality standards. Facilities and program support costs comprise another 18% in expenses. Administrative costs, at 15%, were driven by continually-rising costs of medical and workers compensation insurance rates, in addition to $147,000 of strategic planning expenses. In addition, since the Caltech in-kind contribution to cover workers compensation was reduced for the third year, the CEC covered $153,000 of costs. The Consulting and Educational Services division’s expenses and fundraising expenses comprised 5% and 2% of total expenses, respectively.
this year’s total income, tuition remains the CEC’s primary source of income, with enrollment in all programs surpassing expectations. The Consulting and Educational Services division contributed 5% of revenue, while seeking additional funding. The in-kind contributions from Caltech, JPL, and CEC parents contributed 4%. Fundraising and other income combined contributed 5%.
A complete set of financial statements, audited by Green Hasson & Janks LLP, is available upon written request.
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2016-2017 ANNUAL REPORT
Start today as a child does; full of light and the clearest of vision. - BRENDA VELAND
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CHILD EDUCATIONAL CENTER
leadership
The CEC is honored to have engaged and thoughtful leaders — both staff and volunteer — who help ensure that families in our programs are engaged and thriving, community activities are successful, budgets are managed, and funds are raised. Our volunteers include leadership from the Board of Trustees and Parent Council; the Annual Benefit Event and Auction Committees who helped make the first-ever Family Music Festival a resounding success; and the intrepid fundraisers of the Fund Development Committee, who propelled the Infant-Toddler and Preschool program’s Annual Fund giving participation to a record-setting 84%.
Board of Trustees
Management Team
Kira Johnson, President Daisy Ha, Vice President, Governance Elizabeth Gerber, Vice President, Advancement Ray Morris, Secretary Laif Swanson, Treasurer
Lisa Cain-Chang, Program Director Sheryl MacPhee, Director of Development & Communications Seta Matossian, Controller Mike Mithani, Business Manager Elyssa Nelson, Executive Director Eric Nelson, Director of Consulting and Educational Services Helen Ruppel, Director of Administration
Members Bob Barry Mary Baerg Lisa Cain-Chang Katie Fallin Kenyon Elizabeth Gerber Daisy Ha Kira Johnson Lauren Kaye Joyce Kwon, ex officio Ana Lee Michelle McGinnis Ray Morris Elyssa Nelson Eric Nelson Chris Pisano Melanie Sauer Janet Sedhom Adam Steltzner Laif Swanson Annie Wang
Recording Secretary Julie Townsend
Board Committee Service Sheryl MacPhee, Advancement Kevin Harmon, Audit Val Cain Pearson, Audit Ellen Veselack, Consulting and Educational Services Seta Matossian, Finance & Facilities Mike Mithani, Finance Helen Ruppel, Facilities & Governance Shannon Walsh, Governance Members of the CEC staff are italicized.
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Program Directors Lisa Cain-Chang, Program Director Allegra Inganni, School-Age Director Erinn Levin, Infant-Toddler Director Talar Tchoboian, Assistant SchoolAge Director Ellen Veselack, Preschool Director
Parent Council
Fund Development Committee Abby Brammell Stephanie Delancey Vannessa Dodge Ozge Gencay Ustun Pauline Hwang Mitch Ingham Kimberly Jacobsen Catherine Kelly Hanna Lim Ragen Moss Vijay Natraj, Co-Chair Edith Navasargian Ashley Smith Katie Stack Morgan Sarina Stogel Hilary Strong Petrizzo Julie Tilson, Co-Chair Lori Williams
The Parent Council conducts the activities of the Room Parents in addition to facilitating effective communication and cultivating meaningful communitybuilding experiences for CEC families. Sandra Bordi, Co-Chair Sowmya Chandrasekar Harry Figueroa Josh Fisher Andres Hernandez Anup Katake Gargi Kulkarni Joyce Kwon, Co-Chair Michael Long Sarah Lundeen Robert Martinez Ny Sou Okon Jen Packer Celia Pena Umaa Rebbapragada Emily Sanderson Felix Seidel Caprez Matthew Shaw Trisha Steltzner Lisa Thelen Nick Van Der Wende Qing Yue
CEC parents devoted more than
5,000 HOURS,
realizing our vision to enrich our community and fulfill our mission through the participation of each individual.
2016-2017 ANNUAL REPORT
gifts service of
Anniversaries of Staff Service THIRTY-FIVE YEARS Cathy Bell Nancy Sable TWENTY-FIVE YEARS Esther Enriquez TWENTY YEARS Susan Peterson Ellen Veselack
FIFTEEN YEARS Melissa Coyné Lynn Farwell Erinn Levin Josie Valadez Jennifer Williams TEN YEARS Shaké Amzoyan Melissa Tomokiyo
A
t the August 2017 staff professional development day for all our staff, the CEC honored those individuals whose gifts of service enrich the lives of our children and families. Awards are given to members of our staff family who have reached milestone employment anniversaries. The CEC is grateful to its truly exceptional staff members who help ensure our mission of ‘fulfilling the promise of childhood.’
FIVE YEARS Lisa Boyer Carol Capito Cheryl Darnell Jessie Ede Clara Ghattas Meagan Heidenrich Laura Navarette
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2016-2017 ANNUAL REPORT
Development comes from within. Nature does not hurry but advances slowly. - FRED ROGERS
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CHILD EDUCATIONAL CENTER
10
If you want to do something good for a child…give him an environment where he can touch things as much as he wants. - BUCKMINSTER FULLER
2016-2017 ANNUAL REPORT
Play is the highest expression of human development in childhood, for it alone is the free expression of what is in a child’s soul. - FREDRICK FROEBEL
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annual benefit auction
CHILD EDUCATIONAL CENTER
and
M
ore than 300 online auction bidders and 500 children and adults came together in Spring 2017 to help make our 28th Annual Benefit & Auction and first-ever Family Music Festival a huge success! Under the guidance of parent Co-Chairs Nichola Walker and Jen Jenkins, the Auction featured nearly 450 unique auction items, many of which inspired some competitive bidding wars! Auction highlights included a week in a Paris apartment, and family weekends in Palm Springs and the Channel Islands.
Volunteers and staff were excited to welcome 500+ current and alumni families, staff, community members and generous sponsors to our Family Music Festival, held at the beautiful CEC campus on June 3, 2017. The Hollow Trees, Dan Crow, Birdie’s Playhouse, and the Rumbling Rhythms drum circle, along with the JPL Planetarium, face painting, and Pump and Splash, combined to make the Festival a huge success. Under the leadership of parent Festival Chair Kathy Marganian, the event also featured our annual Apple electronics raffle and Paris apartment raffle (won by Karen and Craig Hall, below). Combined, the Auction and Festival set new CEC fundraising records, with more than $85,000 raised for unrestricted funds that benefit all aspects of our Children’s Programs. Special thanks to our awesome committee volunteers, as well as all who supported our Annual Benefit with your sponsorships, auction donations and bidding, raffle ticket purchases, and attendance at the Festival!
Sponsors $5,000
Suzy Lawrence, D.A. Davidson & Co.
$2,500
Arthur, Kathy, and Anthony Marganian
$1,000
Caltech Employees Federal Credit Union Christen C. & Ben H. Garrett Family Foundation Ellen’s Silkscreening Dan and Andrea Jeffries Jet Propulsion Laboratory
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$500
Arthur J. Gallagher Insurance John and Martha Bell John and Sandra Bordi Green Hasson Janks Hershey Cause Communications Katie and Matt Kenyon Sam Kim and Daisy Ha Elisha and Ryan Mackey Bronwyn Pollock and Michael Berg Caroline Tran Photography*
$250
American Outdoor Advertising, Inc. Bob Smith Toyota Caltech Women’s Club CEC Administrative Team Gillian Abercrombie Frame Brannon Hollis and Family
IT-Training and Consulting, Inc. Ray and Cris Morris The Pisano Family Christopher and Sarina Stogel Vince’s Auto Service Jeff and Stacy Weiss
Donors marked with an asterisk (*) contributed through United Way. CEC Staff are italicized.
2016-2017 ANNUAL REPORT
$100
Kristina Bell and Andrei Marinescu Ella Cameron and Kirk McKenzie Laif Swanson The Kaye Family* Judy Kenyon and Dick Martin Bruce and Joyce Lafko Roberta Liao and Christopher Rivas
Family Music Festival Committee Kathy Marganian, Chair D. Hollis Rachel Bitan Ella Cameron Brandi Carrier Cory Goings Japheth Gordon
Annalise Kordell Jules Lee Marisa Palucis Erin Shih Jessica Samuels Michelle Wilby
Jade Sealey Adrien Theuer Stacy Weinstein-Weiss Sizhen Yoshida
Auction Committee Jennifer Jenkins, Co-Chair Nichola Walker, Co-Chair Paula Antoshechkin Emine Basak Alper Ramaswamy Amanda Carter Karen Yan Hall Tim Hartley Jennifer Johnson Sarah Peterson Lisa Prince
Thanks to CafĂŠ de Leche, Once Upon A Time Bookstore, and Rombury Mill for their contributions to the Family Music Festival.
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CHILD EDUCATIONAL CENTER Caltech/JPL Community 140 Foothill Boulevard La CaĂąada, California 91011
our
vision
The Child Educational Center is a caring educational community where: Children are valued, thrive, and reach their full potential as individuals and contributing members of society. The community and its members are enriched by the participation of each individual. There is a commitment to the realization of similar ideals throughout the world.
Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this Annual Report. If we have made an error or omission, please contact the Development Office so we may correct our records.