Dear Friends,

Lehigh Valley Children’s Centers (LVCC) celebrates 40 years of dedication to early education!

Founded in 1970 as Lehigh Valley Child Care, the organization has been committed to providing highly effective early education and child care to local families for four decades. We’re thankful that so many parents chose to partner with LVCC over the years – giving our dedicated staff the opportunity to impact the lives of tens of thousands of children.

In 1973, LVCC was incorporated as a non-profit 501(c)(3) Corporation with a volunteer Board of Directors. The original purpose of the Corporation as stated in the Articles of Incorporation was “to provide care for children, particularly those whose parents are unable to provide such care themselves, through a program designed to meet the educational, emotional and physical needs of each child.”

Today, LVCC remains true to its original purpose, with a commitment “to provide highly effective early education and child care to promote healthy child development, meet the needs of families, and encourage children to discover the joy of learning.”

As a friend of Lehigh Valley Children’s Centers, we hope you enjoy reading about the organization’s rich history. The service and accomplishments described in this report would not have been possible without the generosity and support of community-minded neighbors, like you. Thank you.

We’re looking forward to the next 40 years, and we hope you are too!

Sally J. Bird Susan M. WilliamsChairperson President / CEO

Board of Directors

OfficersSally J. Bird, ChairpersonSamuel Berrios, Vice ChairpersonSusan C. Schupp, TreasurerSuzanne K. Stianche, SecretaryJ. Michael Lee, Ph.D., Immediate Past Chairperson

Honorary DirectorLinny O. Fowler, Ph.D., Honorary

President / CEOSusan M. Williams, Ed.M.

MembersCassandra AlleyneKeith DomalewskiDavid R. Drake, AIAMarc S. Fisher, Esq.Mary Ellen GambleWarren GerickeRichard LemakCynthia MaxAgeliki Nicolopoulou, Ph.D.Ernesto Ortiz, Jr.James M. WatersSusan P. Williams

1970 – Judith Chase founded Lehigh Valley Child Care under the auspices of the Lehigh Valley Community Council, the planning group for the United Way.

1971 – LVCC managed Pennsylvania’s first program to offer care for infants and toddlers in a center-based setting at Alliance Hall in Allentown.

1973 – LVCC incorporated as a 501(c)(3) organization and began to operate its own centers. At the time, all children LVCC served were eligible for subsidized care.

1975 – Concern about child nutrition prompted LVCC to become a sponsor of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) at all its centers.

1979 – AT&T Longlines donated a large building, formerly an east coast relay station, on South Albert Street in Allentown. LVCC on South Mountain was the first property owned by LVCC.

1970 – 1979In 1965, Judith H. Chase brought Head Start to the Lehigh Valley. After administering the program successfully for five years, Judy established Lehigh Valley Child Care, under the auspices of the Lehigh Valley Community Council, the planning group for the United Way.

In the early 1970’s, LVCC developed programs and opened centers to meet specific geographic and community needs. In 1971, LVCC was the first organization in Pennsylvania to offer center-based infant and toddler care at the “Allentown Infant Center.” LVCC was instrumental in expanding services in rural areas of Lehigh and Northampton Counties. In addition to expanding center-based services, LVCC developed a strong family daycare program. Working with Lehigh and Northampton County Offices of Children & Youth, LVCC took over management of the county-operated daycare homes and developed an excellent program of orientation, training and supervision for these providers.

With Department of Public Welfare funding available for low-income working parents or those in training programs, LVCC was able to open five child care centers in Allentown and two in Bethlehem. Operating in areas with high rates of poverty, these centers provided nursing and social work services as required by the Department of Public Welfare.

As more women entered the work force, LVCC developed highquality child care programs to meet the emerging needs of working mothers. Many of the families LVCC served in the 1970s were headed by single mothers who wanted to work to support their families.

Concern about child nutrition prompted LVCC to become a sponsor of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) at all its centers in 1975. CACFP support ensured that LVCC would be able to provide a nutritious breakfast, lunch and snack daily for all en-rolled children.

1980 – In response to changing community needs, LVCC began accepting tuition-paying families at all of its centers.

1981 – LVCC founded Pennsylvania’s first high-school based center for the children of teen parents at William Allen High School.

1981 – LVCC developed an information and referral service for individuals seeking subsidized child care in Lehigh and Northampton Counties.

1983 – LVCC opened its first employer-sponsored centers at St. Luke’s Hospital and the Allentown State Hospital.

1986 – A central kitchen was established at the South Mountain site, where meals are prepared for all LVCC centers and contract sites.

1988 – The LVCC Scholarship Fund was established to provide temporary financial assistance to low income families in need of child care.

1980 – 1989In 1980, responding to changing community needs, LVCC began accepting tuition-paying families at all of its centers. LVCC developed an information and refer-ral service in 1981 for families seeking child care and early childhood education in Lehigh and Northamp-ton Counties. Child Care Information Services (CCIS), as it came to be called, received funding from Lehigh County through 1984, and Northampton County through 1993, when CCIS became a separate non-profit corporation. The Child and Adult Care Food Program sponsorship expanded to family homes under a separate contract during the 1980s.

In 1981, LVCC opened the Nursery at William Allen High School in cooperation with the Allentown School District. As the first center in the Commonwealth to operate in a high school, providing care for the children of teen parents, the Nursery attracted national attention. A similar program at Liberty High School in Bethlehem followed in 1983.

In 1988, the LVCC Board of Directors established a Scholarship Fund to benefit families receiving LVCC services and waiting for government subsidies to become available or needing assistance on an emergency basis.

Above - St. Luke’s employees enjoyed the conve-

nience and security of having their children nearby when LVCC began partnering with the hospital in 1983. After 27 years of service, we are proud to continue to meet the needs of St. Luke’s employees.

1990 – 1999In the early 1990s, state child care regulations were relaxed -- resulting in a rapid increase in the number of private child care providers. In spite of stiff competition, LVCC continued to operate centers in 19 locations and was recognized as one of the largest multi-site non-profit child care and early childhood education organizations in the state.

In 1991, LVCC became a regional sponsor of the Child and Adult Care Food Program and started to monitor providers outside of the Lehigh Valley. By the end of the decade, LVCC was supervising day care homes in 12 counties.

Above Left - Judith Chase (1932 – 2005) was a pioneer and a leader in the early childhood community. After establishing the first local Head Start program, she founded LVCC and led the organization until her retirement in 2003. She was a co-founder of the PA Child Care Association and served on many boards that focused on the education and welfare of young children. She was a recipient of the “Spirit of Women” Award, the “Athena Award,” and was named a “Notable Person of the Century” by The Morning Call.

1991 – LVCC became a regional sponsor of the CACFP program, supervising day care homes in 12 Pennsylvania counties.

1993 – LVCC’s information and referral operation spun off as a separate corporation – Child Care Information Services, Inc.

1994 – LVCC received its first accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)

1998 – LVCC became a Head Start / Child Care Collaboration participating organization.

1998 -- LVCC established the Program Enrichment Fund to enhance preschool and school-age programming by adding educational and cultural field trips and special guest presentations

During the 90s, LVCC formalized its fund development program, presenting annual special events, including Balloonfest to support the Playground Fund and an an-nual gala for the Scholarship Fund.

In 1998, LVCC established the Program Enrichment Fund, supported by gifts and grants, to enhance its educational programming by supporting field trips, special guest presentations, and innovative classroom projects.

2003 – Susan M. Williams was appointed LVCC’s second Executive Director, replacing our retiring Founder. LVCC’s largest and oldest center was renamed the Judith Chase Early Learning Center.

2003 – LVCC became one of the pilot participants in Keystone STARS, a statewide quality initiative.

2003 – 2007 LVCC conducted an Endowment Campaign, chaired by Linny Fowler & Elmer Gates. The campaign raised $1 million to support future needs.

2007 – In the program’s inaugural year, LVCC was selected to operate five state-funded Pre-K Counts classrooms.

2008 – LVCC exceeded one million dollars in Scholarship Funding raised and distributed.

2000 – 2009LVCC entered the new millennium with 19 program sites and a strong commitment to quality early education. Board member Linny Fowler established the Fowler Education Fund in 2001 to support staff continuing education and promote innovative classroom programming. Also in 2001, Linny Fowler’s leadership gift enabled LVCC to purchase and renovate its new Fowler Center on Main Street, Bethlehem.

In September 2003, founder and executive director Judith H. Chase retired, and Susan M. Williams joined LVCC as its second executive director. At this time, the value of early childhood education began receiving renewed attention at the state and national levels. Pennsylvania soon launched initiatives to increase the educational levels of early childhood teachers in order to improve the quality of early care and education programs.

LVCC centers were among the initial participants in Keystone STARS, a statewide quality initiative. Through collaborations with local community colleges and other institutions, LVCC helped employees earn credentials and continue their education. A research-based curriculum was implemented across all LVCC early childhood programs and various methods of measuring results were put into practice.

Between 2003 and 2008, LVCC nearly tripled the number of group and family child care providers monitored and trained by its CACFP staff. By 2008, LVCC had become the largest CACFP Sponsor / Monitor in the Commonwealth, serving more than 650 providers in 22 counties.

Recognizing the term “child care” offered a very limited impression of LVCC’s services to children and families, the Board of Directors unanimously voted to change LVCC’s name. Effective July 1, 2009 Lehigh Valley Child Care became “Lehigh Valley Children’s Centers,” retaining the well-known initials of LVCC.

When she took the helm in 2003, Susan M. Williams (second from right) brought LVCC a wealth of expertise in early child-hood education and business management. Under Susan’s leadership, LVCC has continued to increase quality, improve facilities, promote staff development, build successful collaborations and garner community support.

2009 – 2010The 2009-2010 fiscal year was truly a lesson in successful collaboration. LVCC staffers found new and innovative ways to collaborate with a variety of partners, including federal and state governments, and local and national organizations. Through invention and ingenuity, we discovered avenues to work together and pool resources in order to offer improved services and increased quality to children and families.

LVCC received funding through the Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley, under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), to provide child care scholarships for families impacted by the recession. In total 42 families benefited from the funding, including 34 single mothers. Of those who received the funding, 28 families reported an income of less than 150% of the federal poverty level (about $33,075 a year for a family of four); nine were living on of less than 50% FPL or $11,025 for a family of four.

In March 2010, LVCC was selected by the PA Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) to pilot “Keystone Babies,” a new model of infant and toddler care intended to improve health and development outcomes for low-income children, birth through 36 months. LVCC was awarded 24 of the 200 Keystone Babies “slots” assigned statewide. LVCC is the only Keystone Babies provider in the Lehigh Valley.

Another successful collaborative effort benefited children enrolled in LVCC’s school-age summer programming. With the support of our community, students in Allen-town and Easton enjoyed a jam-packed summer filled with active learning.

• Thanks to the generosity of our friends at the TD Charitable Foundation and the Wachovia Wells Fargo Foundation, a Scientist-in-Residence from the Da Vinci Science Center visited LVCC centers once a week to teach students to think like scientists – to inquire, observe, predict and experiment. The summer culminated with a science fair where the children demonstrated and discussed the concepts that they learned.

• Instructors from The Repertory Dance Theatre provided 22 hours of dance instruction, thanks to the support of the Dexter & Dorothy Baker Foundation. Ninety percent of participants were from low income families and over 90% had no previous exposure to dance instruction. During active, music-filled classes, students were introduced to the rhythms and movements of hip-hop, jazz and ballet.

• Swim-In Zone Swim Academy provided free weekly swimming lessons to approximately 75 LVCC students from two Allentown centers. The Make-a-Splash Foundation funded the lessons and transportation for our children as part of its national effort to improve water safety results for low-income urban youth.

2009 – By a unanimous vote of the LVCC Board of Directors, Lehigh Valley Child Care officially became Lehigh Valley Children’s Centers, Inc.

2010 – LVCC was selected by the Commonwealth to participate in the Keystone Babies pilot program, serving 24 infants & toddlers, at three LVCC locations.

Statement of Activities July 1, 2009 – June 30, 2010

REVENUE

Tuition $2,409,090Government Child Care Subsidies 3,076,500Reimbursements to CACFP Providers 4,304,636Contributions 1,599,305Investments 71,761Other 120,847

Total Revenue $11,582,139

EXPENSES

Child Care $5,399,413Reimbursements to CACFP Providers 3,530,334General & Administrative 1,585,507Fund Raising 98,266

Total Expenses $10,613,520

Change in Net Assets $968,619

Other

Investments

Contributions

Reimbursements to CACFP Providers

Government ChildCare Subsidies

Tuition

21%

27%37%

14%

1% 1%

REVENUE

Fund Raising

General & Administrative

Reimbursements to CACFP Providers

Child Care

51%

33%

15%

1%

EXPENSES

2009 – 2010 Donor Listing

Thank you for honoring us with your support and especially your trust. The gifts listed herein were made between July 1, 2009 and June 30, 2010. These lists are complete to the best of our knowledge. Please advise us of omissions or corrections by calling the Development Department at 610-820-5333 x203.

BALLOONIST’S CLUB ($10,000 - $19,999)

The Donley Foundation KNBT Division of National Penn Bank PA Department of Community and Economic DevelopmentTwo Rivers Health & Wellness Foundation One anonymous donor

PILOT’S CLUB ($5,000 - $9,999)Bank of America FoundationFrontier Communications Highmark Ruth P. Seruga Charitable Trust Susquehanna Bank The Morning Call Community Fund, a fund of the McCormick Foundation UPMC Health NetworkThe Wachovia Wells Fargo FoundationOne anonymous donor

CHASE CLUB ($2,500-$4,999)The Air Products Foundation Capital BlueCross Charles H. Hoch Foundation Mr. Elmer GatesThe Gates Family Foundation PNC Foundation The Rider-Pool Foundation Serfass Construction Co., Inc. The Century Fund Dr. Arthur and Susan WilliamsOne anonymous donor

AIRBORNE CLUB ($1,000-$2,499)Aetna Foundation, Inc. American Bank Mr. Samuel Berrios The Charles A. & Leona K. Gruber Foundation Mr. and Mrs. James Coker Crayola The Episcopal Church of the Mediator Hospital Central Services, Inc. Kiwanis Club of Allentown Kiwanis Club of Palmer Township Mr. & Mrs. J. Michael Lee Lehigh Valley Community Foundation Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Mr. Donald Pharo PPL Trumbower Hospital Foundation Ms. Helmtrud Young Two anonymous donors

ASCENT CLUB ($20,000 and Over)

Community Action Committee of Lehigh ValleyMr. and Mrs. W. Beall FowlerTD Charitable FoundationUnited Way of the Greater Lehigh ValleyOne anonymous donor

LIFTOFF CLUB ($500-$999)Amelia’s Grocery Outlet The George and Judith Arangio Trust Bill Sugra Memorial Fund Peter and Debra Chase Mrs. Margery L. Gotshall Mr. and Mrs. William Lehr Dr. & Mrs. J. Robert Lovett Scott and Crislyn Sheeler One anonymous donor

GROUND CREW ($250-$499)Ms. Crelia A. AnoiaMr. & Mrs. Fred Beste Mr. and Mrs. Howard Bird Mr. and Mrs. Geoffrey Boyer Davison & McCarthy, P.C. Robert W. Foltz Mr. & Mrs. Mark Gamble Kiwanis Club of Allentown NE Ms. Peggy Kopchak Mrs. Debra Lamb Dr. James R. Regan Ms. Roberta Reinard One anonymous donor

PASSENGER CLUB ($1 - $249)Mr. & Mrs. Alan S. Abraham Coy Ackerman Mr. & Mrs. Barry Ackinclose Dr. Karen Angello & Mr. Antonio Angello Ms. Paula Ballard Ms. Susan Basow Mr. Kenneth L. Baumert Mrs. Katherine Bergethon Mr. & Mrs. John Biggar Mr. & Mrs. Richard N. Bollinger Mr. & Mrs. Wilbur Boyer Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Bragg Ms. Faith Brenneisen Britech, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Brody Mr. & Mrs. James D. Brown Dr. and Mrs. Robert S. Chase Ms. Audrey Cherney

.... Donors Continued.

Tanya Chontos Mr. Martin Cohen Charlotte Cortes Mr. and Mrs. Michael J. Cox Ms. Antoinette Cron Mandira Das Erin Deppe Dr. & Mrs. Walter Dex Mr. and Mrs. William E. Diehl Dr. & Mrs. John DoBrota Mr. & Mrs. Curtis Donaldson Miriam Donaldson Mr. and Mrs. David R. Drake Deb DuChateau Ms. Jennifer Eddy Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Emerich Mrs. Patricia Fasching Mr. and Mrs. Tom Fenstermacher Mr. & Mrs. Peter D. Fuller Janice Gearinger Mrs. Carry A. Gerber Ms. Yvonne Gerlach Debra Ghia Dr. and Mrs. David Gilgoff Mr. Leonard Glazier Ms. Migdalia Gonzalez Mr. & Mrs. Richard T. Gorton Mr. and Mrs. Don Greek Mr. and Mrs. Abebe Hailye Mr Phil Haines Mr. and Mrs. Barry Halper Mrs. Patti Harper Ms. Carel N. Heil Mrs. Colleen Heimbach Mr. Daniel Hendricks Ms. Lisa Higgins Ms. Terri Hineline Mr. & Mrs. David Hoffman Mr. Michael Hoffman Mr. & Mrs. Earl Holland Mr. Gary IacoccaMr. & Mrs. Arthur T. Katsaros Dr. Jay and Marcia Kaufman Ms. Karen Kemmerer Mr. & Mrs. Claude Kohl, Jr.Dr. Ingrid Laszlo & Mr. Richard WaughLehigh County Medical Society Alliance Mrs. Sarah Lemak

Mr. Randy Levan Ms. Jo Anne Longo Mrs. Joyce H. Losee Mr. Thomas Mandry Ms. Robin Marstellar Mr. and Mrs. Barry McCarty Mr. Jack H. McNairy Ms. Jessica Mill Mrs. Georgann J. Miller Ms. Judith Miller Ms. Amy Morgan Ms. Jennifer Munson Ms. Quddosi Naved Mrs. JoAnn B. Nenow Ms. Gloria Nesfeder Mrs. Roxane O’Hearn & Mr. Jim Anderson Ms. Marisol Ocasio Ms. Helen Ojeda Mr Kenneth Osbourne, Jr.Ms. Jade Peters Mr. James Pukanecz Ms. Laura Putt Ms. Ovel Rankin Bill & Nancy ReganMs. Janelle Rice Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Richard Mr. & Mrs. Leon W. Riker Mr. Eduardo Rodriguez Ms. Jennifer Rodriguez-Cox Ms. Rosa Sabater Saucon Valley Elementary School Staff Segal & Morell, Inc. Ms. Margaret Shasanmi Mr. and Mrs. Scott Siegmund Dr. and Mrs. Roland Sigal Mrs. Janet Soos Whitley Stadeker Mr. Christopher Sten Ms. Suzanne Stianche P.J. Stofanak, Inc. Stotz & Fatzinger Office Supply Mr. Justin Stovall Mr John Sullivan Dr. Elliot Jay Sussman Mr. Albert Taylor Mr. Harold Thomas

Board Chairpersons, 1970-2010

Special thanks to those who have provided leadership to LVCC.

Atty. Malcolm Gross 1973 – 1975Sanford “Sandy” Beldon 1975 - 1979Donald Barnum 1979 – 1980Edward Phillips 1980 - 1981Ken Graham 1981 – 1984Ingrid Laszlo 1984 – 1986Loren Hincker 1986 – 1988Ilene Prokup 1988 – 1989Thomas C. (T. C.) Clements 1989 – 1990Robert Mundhenk 1990 – 1991David Drake 1991 – 1993Theresa Hogan 1993 – 1995C. David Miller 1995 – 1997Thomas Clements 1997 – 1998Peter Dunbar 1998 – 2001Dipak Shah 2001 – 2003Rick Lemak 2003 – 2004David Drake 2004 – 2007J. Michael Lee 2007 - 2010Sally J. Bird 2010 –

MEMORIAL AND HONORARY GIFTSIn memory of Judith Chase Peter and Debra Chase Elizabeth R. Gilgoff JoAnn B. NenowIn memory of Melanie M. Wagner Mr. Harry P. WagnerIn honor of Colleen Heimbach Mr. & Mrs. Barry McCartyIn honor of Debra Lamb Mr. & Mrs. Timothy Bragg

Ms. Maureen Holland Thomson Ms. Georgine Timko Ms. Susan Tudela Mr. Harry P. Wagner Ms. Jennifer Wanisko Dr. & Mrs. Robert Williamson Mr. & Mrs. James E. Woodley Yocco’s Inc. Mr. Robert S. Yuhasz Ms. Marge Zellner Six anonymous donors

IN-KIND GIFTSMs. Carol Archibald Ms. Roberta Barber Butter Krust Baking Co.Central Park Senior Center Ms. Delores Christman Corporate Environments Giant Food Stores Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival at DeSalesIdentity Group, LLC Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Kirshner Mr. & Mrs. Warren Lazar MCS Industries Inc. Michaels Store #9921 Penn Jersey Milk Co.Pocono Produce Co.Nestle Purina Petcare Co. Mrs. Judy Reynolds Retired and Senior Volunteer ProgramSovereign Bank St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church Stitch ‘n’ ShareSwim-in Zone Sysco Food Service of Central PAThe Morning Call Employee Council United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley Ms. Susan M. Williams

1501 Lehigh Street, Suite 208 Allentown, PA 18103-3092

2009 – 2010 Annual Report

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Celebrating 40 Years of Dedication to Early Education