On Sunday, December 9, 2007, fire burned the portable classrooms that housed the early childhood classes at our Stevens Park site to the ground. Thankfully, no one was hurt, but the property damage was severe. Authorities believed the fire started because someone smoking in the bathroom left a cigarette in the trash that smoldered for hours before igniting the whole building.

When tragedy strikes, nothing can bring back the things lost. At Stevens Park, that meant developmental toys, supplies, curricula, and most of all, a place for young children to attend AVANCE-Dallas classes.

But while nothing can bring back what was lost, we were truly amazed at the quick response of the Dallas community to help us get the site functioning again. Stevens Park principal Dr. Sylvia Martinez made immediate plans for AVANCE-Dallas childhood classes to share space with the In-House Suspension portable, and AVANCE-Dallas staff members worked tirelessly to prepare it for classes, which resumed the Thursday after the fire. The Dallas ISD is currently installing a new portable for future AVANCE-Dallas occupancy.

AVANCE-Dallas Operations Manager Anne Thomas mobilized the community by spreading word about the need, and others jumped in immediately. Several donations came from you, our supporters, to help cover the costs of new supplies and educational toys for our children.

Three days after the fire consumed the portable, Lakeshore School Supplies dropped off a truckload of curricula for the Stevens Park site. Our partner TEEM sent Scholastic math and writing materials and a teacher’s manual for immediate use.

Thank you to all of you who helped us make it through this blaze. Because of the Dallas community’s support, the AVANCE-Dallas program at Stevens Park didn’t miss any days and is back on track today, making an impact on the future of Dallas.

We’re proud to announce a new $7,000 grant from the Rosewood Foundation in support of the AVANCE-Dallas Parent-Child Education Program. This grant advances children from two angles—directly through child learning stimulation and indirectly through parent training that develops them into daily, lifelong educational partners. A big thank you to the Rosewood Foundation for investing, as Dr. James Heckman recommends, in the very young!

This year Navidad en el Barrio (Navidad in the Neighborhood) again brought joy to our children and parents through generous donations. They gave 672 gifts plus books to our families, valued at over $7,000. Their gifts made a powerful impact on our families, many of whom can’t afford Christmas gifts themselves.

For over nineteen years, Navidad en el Barrio has been providing children’s gifts for families at Christmas. Their mission is “to bring the joy of Christmas to predominantly minority families by providing literacy and fitness toys for children in low-income communities in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.” That mission interlocks with our program distinctive of stimulating learning through educational toys.

We’re proud to call Navidad en el Barrio our partner. This year AVANCE-Dallas staff volunteered 30 hours to organize and pack toys for other Dallas organizations, schools, and agencies. It’s a privilege for us not only to receive from Navidad en el Barrio, but to give back to others through them.

Navidad en el Barrio relies on the work of volunteers to make its toy campaign a success. If you would like to get involved, check out their Web site, http://www.navidaddfw.org/toydrive.html, or contact Rosanne Ortega at 214-893-4392.

On behalf of our families, thank you, Navidad en el Barrio, for making this Christmas a holiday to remember!

One way to help women find greater fulfillment in life is to teach them how valuable a role they play in the next generation. Young children need the nurturing and stimulation only a parent can provide. Unfortunately, many of the moms in our program don’t know that what they’re doing matters, and consequently, they don’t apply themselves to the important task before them.

The Dallas Women’s Foundation and the McCall Fund are joining with AVANCE-Dallas to make our Parent Education Program available to these mothers. By contributing a $22,500 grant, $11,500 of which is from the McCall Fund, the Dallas Women’s Foundation is helping to train moms to become effective parents and strong leaders in their schools and communities.

As one example of our women’s leadership efforts, several mothers at our Bachman Lake site spearheaded a school beautification project for David G. Burnet Elementary School last year. Together, they planned the project, cleared it with the school, and proceeded to clean up the property and plant small trees and flowers. Through accomplishments like this, mothers learn how to be active contributors to their community.

Special thanks to the Dallas Women’s Foundation and the McCall Fund for advancing women at AVANCE-Dallas!

We’re pleased to announce our new partnership this year with Speedway Children’s Charities, Texas Chapter. Their $2,000 grant will help advance the lives of 500 children during the school year through our Parent-Child Education Program. AVANCE-Dallas received the award at a beautiful Tree Lighting and Grant Ceremony on December 4 (click here to see a picture). We’re proud to join with Speedway Children’s Charities, Texas Chapter, to strengthen Dallas children racing toward the graduation line.