Carl Angus DeSantis Foundation Awards $365,000 Grant to Support Early Childhood Education in Delray Beach
The Carl Angus DeSantis Foundation's $365,000 grant to Achievement Centers for Children & Families sustains critical early learning services for underserved families in southern Palm Beach County, addressing educational disparities and supporting kindergarten readiness for at-risk children.
The Carl Angus DeSantis Foundation has awarded a $365,000 grant to Achievement Centers for Children & Families to support its nationally accredited Early Learning Program, representing a significant investment in early childhood education for underserved communities in southern Palm Beach County. This funding comes at a critical time for families facing economic challenges, with the program serving children from households averaging just $24,592 in annual income.
The grant will sustain and strengthen the Early Learning Program, which serves up to 109 children ages 1 to 5 at the Nancy K. Hurd campus in Delray Beach. The program delivers more than 2,485 service hours annually through a curriculum focused on six essential developmental domains while providing over 47,000 meals each year. The program maintains low teacher-to-child ratios and employs 22 full-time, highly credentialed educators to ensure children are kindergarten-ready.
Stephanie Seibel, CEO of Achievement Centers, emphasized the transformative impact of the grant, stating that it lifts a tremendous burden from the organization and allows continued delivery of full-day, year-round care while expanding services to meet evolving family needs. The funding enables staff to focus on program innovation and long-term sustainability, creating ripple effects across afterschool programs, teen initiatives, and family support services.
The Early Learning Program serves as an essential lifeline for working single-parent households and children at risk of falling through educational gaps in a community where many families face systemic barriers including poverty, trauma, and limited access to quality education. Achievement Centers serves more than 760 children and their families annually, primarily in Delray Beach, through its comprehensive programming.
Seibel described the DeSantis Foundation's contribution as more than financial support, calling it a vote of confidence in the organization's mission and the future of the community's youngest learners. The partnership underscores the critical importance of early childhood education in breaking cycles of poverty and establishing foundations for lifelong academic and social success. For additional information about the organization's programs and services, visit https://www.achievementcentersFL.org.