Child Care Council of Westchester Hosts Reception For Scholarship Benefactor

In Westchester, a year of child care averages more than $14,000, and many families struggle to afford enrollment in a quality program. The Lanza Investment in Kid’s Early Education (LIKE) scholarship award, funded by The Lanza Family Foundation and administered by the Child Care Council of Westchester (CCCW) was established in 2012 to fill the gap. In August, the CCCW held a reception to honor benefactor Pat Lanza, and introduce her to the 43 families who receive the scholarship in 2013. While the parents still pay the larger share of child care expenses, Mrs. Lanza’s support is the difference between a babysitter and a rich learning environment where children flourish academically, socially and emotionally.

“I didn’t know how I was going to make it without help – it’s truly unbelievable,” said Melissa Senerchia of Mt. Vernon, whose 2.5-year-old son benefits from the scholarship. “Within the first week in a real daycare, my son was speaking better, being social, and using his manners. He’s now on a schedule, interacts with older children and loves going to school.”

The reception took place at the CCCW offices in Scarsdale, and featured a catered dinner and interactive, musical entertainment for children provided by Delores JiJi. Throughout the evening, parents took the opportunity to personally thank Mrs. Lanza and explain what a difference the scholarship made in their lives.

“I always gave scholarships to high school graduates, and then I found out that children start learning at 6 weeks old, and how important that early learning is,” said Lanza. “That’s when I became interested in helping support daycare.”

Longitudinal studies show that a quality early childhood experience pays off in multiple ways with improved school performance, higher rates of high school graduation and college attendance, and increased lifetime earnings; those children also register lower levels of legal system/court involvement and special education services.

“When Mrs. Lanza asked me what Westchester needed most, my response was: ‘child care,” said CCCW Board Member Camille Murphy, Executive Director of the Women’s Research and Education Fund. “From there she took off, establishing the Lanza learning Center in Yonkers and then extending her generosity by establishing the LIKE program for child care scholarships. She truly is a woman who responds to the needs of the less fortunate.”

To qualify for the award, children must be enrolled full-time (30 hrs week) in a child care center, family or group family child care program that serves infants, toddlers or preschoolers, is located in Westchester County, regulated by the Office of Children and Family Services; and has participated in a Child Care Council of Westchester, Inc. quality improvement project or agrees to participate in one, or is nationally accredited. For licensed centers, the scholarship amount is $5,000/12 months; for group and family child care programs, the scholarship amount is $4,250/12 months.

For more information about the Child Care Council of Westchester, call (914) 761-3456 or visit www.childcarewestchester.org.

About the Child Care Council of Westchester
The Child Care Council of Westchester is a private, nonprofit resource organization that champions the healthy development of children, families and communities by promoting quality early care and education. A unique, “one stop” agency for child care, the Council offers parent referrals, training, information, technical assistance, reports on the industry, and public education for parents, child care programs, governmental organizations and the business community. Since its inception in 1968, the Council has grown to become the premier authority on child care services throughout Westchester County.   The Council recently attained Quality Assurance, establishing it as one of the nation’s leading Child Care Resource and Referral agencies (CCR&Rs).  The national recognition was awarded by Child Care Aware® of America. 

About Pat Lanza
Westchester resident Pat Lanza is an unsung hero. Over the years she has quietly changed people's lives by paying attention to what they need and by listening when they speak of their dreams. Mrs. Lanza has been a dedicated benefactor to many organizations that help women, children and families in need. She helps community groups that work for peace, equality, feed the homeless and most recently, she has extended her giving to child care services as she believes the younger we reach children, the more favorable the outcome. She has been a generous, dedicated contributor to scholarship programs, believing that investing in education reaps great rewards. She has provided hundreds of thousands of dollars to high school girls who dreamed of going to college but didn't have the means. As far away as Swaziland, she has provided the tools for hungry families to learn how to grow vegetables for food and profit.  She was recently awarded the 2011 Outstanding Philanthropist of the Year award by the Association of Development Officers.