Bemidji, MN - The McKnight Foundation awarded the Northwest Minnesota Foundation (NMF) and the five other Minnesota Initiative Foundations (MIFs) a $3 million, three-year grant to expand the Minnesota Early Childhood Initiative…A Campaign for Our Youngest Children. In the fall of 2008, the MIFs plan to add 12 early childhood coalitions, raising the statewide network of coalitions to 78.

In 2003, the MIFs launched the Minnesota Early Childhood Initiative with the support of an initial multi-year grant from The McKnight Foundation. They also provided a second grant in 2005.

The Minnesota Early Childhood Initiative was an effort started in response to the dire fact that only half of Minnesota's children enter kindergarten fully prepared. Since then the 66 grassroots early childhood coalitions have begun turning the tide for Minnesota’s youngest children – giving them the chance they deserve. One indicator of success comes from a state survey in January 2006 that indicated voters now place early childhood care and education as a top priority.

"Communities across Greater Minnesota have banded together to address the key issue of school readiness," says Nancy Vyskocil, NMF president. "Studies continue to show quality early education programs prepare children for learning. This makes them more likely to perform at grade level, graduate from high school, and more likely to get and keep a job."

Lin Backstrom, NMF early childhood program specialist states, "Through our collective efforts, we are building on local assets to improve conditions for families with young children to ensure they receive the care, support, and education they need to succeed in school and in life."

Already over 400 projects and programs have been implemented as an outgrowth of coalition work in early childhood communities throughout the state. Support from The McKnight Foundation will help engage more communities throughout Minnesota in creating local citizen-based plans to strengthen resources for young children and their families.

Grant funds will also allow current coalition communities to dig deeper in program development, reach more young children and their families through comprehensive school readiness efforts, and embed model projects in the community for long-term sustainability.

"The first five years lay the foundation for a child's development during the course of his or her life," says Erika L. Binger, board chair of The McKnight Foundation. "This growing awareness of the critical impact of children's experiences early on in life provides an important impetus for the continuation and expansion of the Minnesota Early Childhood Initiative. The McKnight Foundation is pleased to continue this powerful partnership with the Minnesota Initiative Foundations to help communities create strong local environments for early childhood development."

Northwest Minnesota Foundation and the five other Minnesota Initiative Foundations serve six regions of the state outside the Twin Cities metropolitan area, and were created in 1986 as a partnership between The McKnight Foundation and the citizens of Greater Minnesota.