May 13th, 2013
Pictured left to right: Trace Haythorn, Jessica Conway, David Hoffman, Mark Mendel, Melony Gibson, Charlese Dease, and Rosalie Howell
A special “Garden of the 5 Senses” interactive teaching and therapy area recently opened at the Frazer Center in Atlanta. The project was made possible thanks to a Greenman Gift grant from Bright Horizons and the Bright Horizons Foundation for Children.
The Frazer Center is a nonprofit agency with a long-standing history of providing outstanding services to infants, preschoolers and adults with physical and intellectual disabilities such as cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, autism spectrum disorders and other disorders. It is one of only a few inclusive child care programs in metro Atlanta and are unique in that both children and adults with disabilities are afforded day services at the same site.
The Frazer Center’s 1,600-square-foot existing courtyard was turned into a space that integrates beauty and function. The Garden of the 5 Senses is a space that invites exploration and imagination while also stimulating learning. In addition to plants that are beautiful to see, touch, smell, and taste, there is a small amphitheater for children to listen to stories and a special humming stone. This space will also be used as an outdoor classroom and reading area.
“The heart of our effort lies in the deep conviction that introducing and cultivating a love of nature with young children provides not 
only a wonderful learning opportunity but also the early building blocks of a life-long commitment to appreciating and caring for our natural world,” said Trace Haythorn, Executive Director.
The Rich Foundation also contributed to the garden.
The Greenman Gift was established in 2009 in honor of Jim Greenman, the former Chairman of the Foundation Board and Senior VP of Education and Training for Bright Horizons. Jim’s professional life was dedicated to the wellbeing of children and families. He left a legacy of creating wonderful places for children and adults where they could play and learn, creating warm memories that would become a part of the fabric of their lives. The Greenman Gift provides a $35,000 grant of direct financial and in kind contributions to one child care program each year to improve its facility in Jim’s honor.
May 9th, 2013
“This makeover will go a long way to helping the families we serve who have been affected by sexual abuse and severe physical abuse, feel comfortable and welcome,” said Mark Parr, CAC’s Executive Director.
“After looking into many places, the team at The Early Childhood Education Center felt that it was clear The Children’s Advocacy Center was the right agency to partner with. While we are so fortunate for the wonderful environments and opportunities that are afforded to the children and families at ECEC, we wanted to be able to extend these experiences to other children and families. We are looking forward to our continued partnership with the CAC,” said Heather Santiemmo, ECEC Director.
The Bright Space included new carpeting, paint, furniture, toys and décor for the agency’s family waiting room, reception areas and forensic interview rooms. The Bright Space was created through partnerships with The Early Childhood Education Center in Schaumburg, IL, the Bright Horizons Foundation for Children, and Zurich North American.
May 14th, 2013
Please join us in congratulating Julia O’Shea, Teacher at Bright Horizons at Davis Square, for being honored with a Gleason Grant. The Children’s Room in Arlington, MA will receive a check for $250 in her name.
Julia works as a group facilitator. Her group consists of children ages 7 to 9 who have experienced the death of one of their parents. Julia gives guidance and support to each child and their family, encourages peer support and discussion, leads therapeutic activities which include sessions in the art studio, and also engages in free play after the group discussions.
The Bright Horizons Foundation for Children provides grants to nonprofit organizations where our employees volunteer to make a difference in the lives of children and families.
Премьеры компании Mercedes-Benz на Парижском автосалоне
May 8th, 2013
Please join us in congratulating Carmelita Wiley, Infant Teacher at Camp Amgen, for being honored with a Gleason Grant. Rescue Mission Alliance in Oxnard, CA will receive a check for $250 in her name. On any given Saturday Carmelita helps set the tables, prepare and serve the food, and then assists with the clean-up. She also makes donations throughout the year, and donates toys and blankets during the holidays.
The Bright Horizons Foundation for Children provides grants to nonprofit organizations where our employees volunteer to make a difference in the lives of children and families.
May 8th, 2013
Please join us in congratulating Tiara Stevens, Administrative Assistant at Mattel Child Development Center, for being honored with a Gleason Grant. Tri City Youths in Los Angeles, will receive a check for $250 in her name. Tiara helps keep parents informed and updated on events for the recreation program through phone calls, emails, and flyers. She also helps with fundraisers and organizing travel for the youth basketball program.
The Bright Horizons Foundation for Children provides grants to nonprofit organizations where our employees volunteer to make a difference in the lives of children and families.
May 6th, 2013
Infant Teacher Susan Marie Schulhof has been a supporter of the Bright Horizons Foundation for Children for more than 6 years. She has volunteered and raised money through Walk Ons for the Bright Space in Palatine, IL.
Recently, Susan self-published a book called Fun4Babies available for $12. It is a resource for teachers and parents of 52 activities and their learning benefits, short descriptions, pictures and items needed to implement the activity. She is donating $1 from each book sale to the Foundation to help create the Bright Space in Palatine.
The e-book is available through iBook, Nook, and Kindle you can contact Susan through www.facebook.com/Bookfun4babies or at susanmarieschulhof@yahoo.com.
May 2nd, 2013
Mother’s Day is almost here, and you can make an impact on children who are homeless or in crisis without spending any more than you would normally spend for Mom.
Shop Amazon through the Foundation’s link and 8% of your Mother’s Day purchases will be donated back to the Foundation. Buy jewelry, flowers, chocolate covered strawberries, her favorite book – whatever she wants – and help children and families in crisis. Just use the special link, then shop as normal. It’s that easy.
For the mom who has everything, consider making a donation in her honor to help children. Our online donation form makes it simple to make an ongoing or one-time payment and Mom will get a letter letting her know.
May 1st, 2013
The Bright Horizons team from USAA Child Development Center who created a Bright Space at the Sojourner Center in Phoenix in December 2011 was recently honored at the agency’s 10th annual Vanguard Recognition Event.
“On behalf of the families at Sojourner Center, I would like to thank you for building and providing the nursery for our families at the Hope Campus,” said Executive Director Connie Phillips. “We would like to honor Bright Horizons with an award called the Ward Simpson, Creating the Future Award. This award honors someone who has done a physical project for Sojourner Center that supports the expansion of the organization and services we offer. This award celebrates people who recognize a need in our community and create a project that will impact the lives of the families we serve.”
The Sojourner Center is one of the nation’s largest domestic violence shelters. The Bright Space there was named Nainoa’s Room in memory of a precious little baby, the son of Bright Horizons employee Nicol Russell.
April 30th, 2013
Please join us in congratulating Devin Fletcher, Lead Teacher at AstraZeneca CDC at Rockland, for being honored with a Gleason Grant for his continual volunteer work with Imperial Dynasty, which has partnerships with the Police Athletic League of Wilmington and schools. The Police Athletic League will receive a check for $250 in Devin’s name, which is to be used in support of Drumline.
Devin is the Director of Imperial Dynasty, a competitive Indoor Drumline and Colorguard as well as a learning center and mentoring organization. He ensures that each unit is equipped with the tools necessary to function, sets up practice times, teaches drill and music, and requests bus and trucks for competition. He also writes grants and supports local agencies. . . . more than 1,500 hours in volunteer work!
The Bright Horizons Foundation for Children provides grants to nonprofit organizations where our employees volunteer to make a difference in the lives of children and families.
April 23rd, 2013
Please join us in congratulating Cindy Schacht, Director of Bright Horizons at High Ridge Park, for being honored with a Gleason Grant. Domus in Stamford, CT, will receive a check for $250 in her name. This agency opened in 1972 as a single group home for a handful of homeless boys and now runs over a dozen programs helping over 1,200 youth daily. Cindy actively works to help with their fundraising on behalf of the children and families that they serve.
The Bright Horizons Foundation for Children provides grants to nonprofit organizations where our employees volunteer to make a difference in the lives of children and families.
only a wonderful learning opportunity but also the early building blocks of a life-long commitment to appreciating and caring for our natural world,” said Trace Haythorn, Executive Director.
