Bainum Family Foundation Grant to Provide Local Families with Early Learning Kits

The COVID-19 crisis has led to closures of early learning sites across the region, including central Seattle neighborhoods served by the Seattle University Youth Initiative. In response to this disruption, the Bainum Family Foundation awarded Seattle University an additional $30,000 grant to provide three months of learning kits for 100 local families with children up to age 5.

In preparing the grant proposal, Lupita Torres, SUYI early learning manager, convened and consulted partners including Pre-K and kindergarten teachers at Bailey Gatzert Elementary School, Monica’s Village, Yesler Terrace and the Chinese Information Services Center. The kits will provide families with math, social-emotional, literacy and arts materials. Zeno, an early learning math organization based in the Central District, will provide math games in the kits. In addition, each partner will tailor the materials in their kits for continuity between programming and at-home learning.

Families connected to these key partners will receive the first of the planned three kits by the end of April.