Charity Spotlight: Columbus Early Learning Centers

By Chris Alexis

Helping young children can be one of the most heartwarming and rewarding experiences a young professional can have.

Now’s your chance. Columbus Early Learning Centers (CELC) provides high-quality and affordable early childhood education. They serve 300 children across the city between four locations in the Near East and Linden neighborhoods of the city.

“High-quality early learning and care is cost prohibitive for families living in poverty, but these are the families that need these services the most,” said CELC Development Coordinator Jessie Crawford. “We work to provide below market-rate early education and care to these families by connecting families to programs, subsidies, and providing scholarships to make early education accessible for low-income families.”

There’s no shortage of ways people can dive in and help lift up the children who attend CELC.

“From reading to kids, to helping with gardening and weeding, there are all kinds of things that need to happen to help our organization run smoothly,” Crawford said.

“Volunteering at CELC is a fun and rewarding way to impact children in our community,” she said. “Time spent at CELC is time spent putting smiles on the faces of our students. No act of kindness is too small to make a difference in the life of a child. Supporting early childhood education at Columbus Early Learning Centers means supporting the future of our city.”

Speaking of the mission – it’s important for the community.

“Early childhood education benefits two generations simultaneously. When children are enrolled in high-quality early childhood education, parents are able to work towards economic self-sufficiency for their families, and their children are able to learn, preparing them for their own future,” Crawford said.

Studies reveal that individuals who were enrolled in a quality preschool program ultimately earned up to $2,000 more per month than those who were not. On top of that, young people who were in preschool programs are more likely to graduate from high school, own homes, and even have longer marriages.

These effects are even more distinct for children from low-income families.

Crawford expressed gratitude toward the Columbus Young Professionals Club.

“We greatly appreciate the interest of the young professional community, especially CYP Club, in giving back to the organization that do so much for the children and families in Columbus. Their commitment to service is truly inspiring,” she said.

Interested in learning more? Contact Jesse at jcrawford@columbusearlylearning.org.