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FMCA has chosen the Child Development Center, a private, nonprofit early childhood program, as the official charity for the Pomona 2006 convention.
The center serves children from 6 weeks to 6 years of age. It's one of the three nonprofit Foundations at Fairplex, created to promote education in Southern California.
“We serve an underserved community,” said Susette Aguiar-Possnack, development associate with the Foundations at Fairplex. “The city of Pomona doesn’t have resources like ours … so we‘re providing a much-needed service.”
The other two Foundations at Fairplex are the Millard Sheets Gallery and the Fairplex Education Foundation.
Focus on early education
The Child Development Center, which celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2005, is operated by the Los Angeles County Fair Association in alliance with the University of La Verne.
The center’s mission is to provide a safe, nurturing educational environment where diverse children, families, and adults come together to learn and grow.
The specially designed infant, toddler and preschool classrooms at the center emphasize developmentally appropriate experiences for the children.
Children are admitted into the various programs regardless of income, religion, ethnicity, gender, culture, language or developmental differences.
Many of the staff members are certified in early childhood education and hold advanced degrees in child development or related fields.
The center partners with the University of La Verne to serve as a training and field study site for students enrolled in its early education program.
The partnership with the university is the lifeblood of the center, Aguiar-Possnack said. “We teach future teachers how to do an exemplary job.”
Donating at the convention
To make a tax-deductible donation to the Child Development Center, visit the Fairplex Foundations table located at the Information Center, Building 22.
Convention attendees may also purchase a bookmark and/or a work of art handmade by the children from the center. All proceeds will go to the Child Development Center's Family Literacy Program.
Convention-goers can learn more about the Child Development Center through a seminar called “Born to Learn.” It will be presented by Aguiar-Possnack on Tuesday, March 21, from 9:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. in Seminar 9 (Sheraton Hotel). She will discuss the long-term benefits of quality early childhood education.
Those who will not be attending the convention but wish to make a donation may contact Susette Aguiar-Possnack at aguiar@fairplex.com or at (909) 865-4206.
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