Richmond, Va. (June 16, 2021) – Robert Hurt, of Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., was elected for a two-year term as board chair of the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation (VECF) at the organization’s annual board meeting on June 16. Richard Bynum, of The PNC Financial Services Group, was elected vice-chair of the board.

VECF is a statewide public-private entity that serves as the non-partisan steward of Virginia’s promise for early childhood success, supporting equitable opportunities for all families with young children to thrive.

Robert Hurt, who has been a member of the VECF board since 2017 and had served as the board’s vice-chair since 2019, succeeds Ned W. Massee, president of Croatan Advisors in Richmond. Prior to joining Liberty University in 2017, he served in the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Virginia’s Fifth District for three terms from 2011-2017. He was the founding director of Liberty’s Center for Law & Government, where he developed numerous programs that have provided students with exceptional opportunities to engage with influential leaders from the nation’s capital and across the country. In 2019, he was asked to serve as dean for the Helms School of Government. Earlier in his career, he worked as a lawyer and citizen-legislator from Southside Virginia. He brings a wealth of legal, governing and leadership experience to his role as board chair of VECF, having served terms in the Virginia Senate, the Virginia House of Delegates and in local government.

Richard Bynum also joined the VECF board in 2017. Currently serving as chief corporate responsibility officer of The PNC Financial Services Group, he had previously served as regional president of PNC Bank in Greater Washington and Virgnia and had been a member of PNC’s retail executive leadership team, where he led the company’s small business division. In that role, he was responsible for targeting clients across the bank’s footprint with commercial solutions including lending, deposit services, merchant card processing and treasury management services. His experience in executive leadership spans nearly 20 years.

Continuing in their roles on the VECF board as treasurer and secretary, respectively, are Kevin Curtis, vice president for electric transmission at Dominion Energy, and Cynthia Romero, M.D., FAAFP, director of the M. Foscue Brock Institute for Community and Global Health at Eastern Virginia Medical School.

“VECF is fortunate to have such a talented team of board officers with Robert, Richard, Kevin and Cynthia. Each of them brings a unique, strategic perspective and strong commitment to transform Virginia’s early childhood landscape,” said Kathy Glazer, president of the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation. “We extend our sincere thanks to Ned for his exceptional leadership as board chair, especially during these unprecedented times caused by the pandemic. His vision, guidance and unwavering dedication helped VECF make tremendous strides in our long-term mission.”

“I look forward to collaborating with VECF’s fully engaged board of statewide business and community leaders, as well as with elected officials from both political parties,” said Robert Hurt. “Working together to lead change is essential as we strive to create a strengthened and more equitable child care system to support the families and children of Virginia.”

 

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About the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation: VECF creates results-oriented partnerships to ensure that young children are healthy and prepared for school, life and workforce success. To learn more about VECF and the Back to Work Virginia Task Force, visit archive.vecf.org.

Media Contact: Sara Hunt, SaraHuntPR@gmail.com, 804-994-1120

Richmond, VA (Dec. 18, 2020) – The Back to Work VA Task Force, created earlier this year to re-envision and sustain a more equitable child care system for Virginia, announced policy recommendations today including a bold goal that all Virginia families should have access to quality child care by 2030, regardless of their income. The Task Force included top Virginia leaders from business, government, philanthropy and communities, whose work was informed by Virginia and national experts on child care and early learning issues.

A bipartisan group of legislators, First Lady Pamela Northam and representatives from more than twenty organizations participated in a virtual event today to release the findings and underscore the importance of child care and early learning.

“It’s simply not acceptable to leave behind the children and families who cannot afford to access quality child care education programs,” said Virginia Senator Janet Howell. “Virginia is making progress, but we also need to re-imagine our early childhood system from a longer point of view. That’s why I was so excited to hear about the Task Force’s bold goal that every child can access quality early childhood programs by 2030. We can do this,” Howell said.

“Early childhood learning is the foundation for future success,” said Delegate Luke Torian, Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. “Access to quality early learning programs is the best way to realize the potential of every child in the Commonwealth and make sure that no one is left behind,” Torian said.

“Every child in Virginia deserves access to quality early learning opportunities,” said First Lady Pamela Northam. “The Governor’s proposed budget for the 2021 Regular Session is another step toward that goal and we look forward to joining advocates and legislators to continue this momentum.”

“For Virginia to recover and prosper, we cannot go back to business as usual with a child care system that fails to provide equitable access to affordable, quality care for working families. Virginia can do better and we will do it together,” said James Dyke, Former Virginia Secretary of Education and Task Force Co-Chair.

The event also announced the formation of the Virginia Promise Partnership, a coalition of leading organizations committed to working together to accomplish the goal. The Partnership will develop a plan to ensure all Virginia families have access to affordable quality child care by 2030 and undertake a comprehensive advocacy plan to make it happen.

The Partnership, which continues to grow, currently consists of: Child Care Aware of Virginia, The Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis, Early Care & Education Consortium, Neimand Collaborative, Robins Foundation, Save the Children Action Network, Virginia Alliance for Family Child Care Associations, Virginia Association of Counties, Virginia Alliance of YMCAs, Virginia Chamber of Commerce, Virginia Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics, Virginia Child Care Association, Virginia Early Childhood Foundation, Virginia Education Association, Virginia First Cities, Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association, Virginia PTA, Virginia Partnership for Out-of-School Time and Voices for Virginia’s Children.

The work of the Task Force paid particular attention to the needs of providers and educators.

“As someone who has worked in the field of early childhood for many years, I am happy to be part of this ambitious vision and bold goal for Virginia,” said Tammy Mann, President & CEO of the Campagna Center. “Particularly in this time of uncertainty, we need to recognize the profound influence of early educators on Virginia’s next generation. They are the workforce that supports all other workforces and they deserve our very best,” Mann said.

The Task Force also found that the child care industry plays a vital role in the overall health of Virginia’s economy.

“Access to early childhood care and education is essential for a thriving economy,” said Stephen Moret, Task Force Co-Chair and President & CEO of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership. “The short-term benefits in workforce gains and long-term benefits for education and workforce are unparalleled in terms of building an effective strategy to break the cycle of poverty and lift up our Commonwealth,” Moret said.

The Task Force also highlighted the impact of COVID-19 on the child care industry, families and businesses. “COVID-19 is showing in stark terms the vital role child care and early education plays in our lives,” said Deborah DiCroce, Task Force Co-Chair and President & CEO of the Hampton Roads Community Foundation. “It’s imperative that Virginia prioritize this industry not only to give all our children an equal access to opportunity, but for the overall strength of our communities.”

 

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About the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation: VECF creates results-oriented partnerships to ensure that young children are healthy and prepared for school, life and workforce success. To learn more about VECF and the Back to Work Virginia Task Force, visit archive.vecf.org.

 

Media Contact: Rob Shinn, 804-347-4093

Richmond, VA (Dec. 16, 2020) – The Virginia Early Childhood Foundation (VECF), a statewide convener of public and private sectors to create transformative early childhood solutions for Virginia, elected Kartik B. Athreya, Ph.D., executive vice president and director of research for the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, as a new board member at VECF’s quarterly meeting on Dec. 16.

As a published author in a variety of academic journals, Dr. Athreya also serves as associate editor at the Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control. His current research in macroeconomics and consumer finance aims to measure and understand household financial distress and debt repayment decisions, to quantify the links between household investments in human capital and the stock market, and to assess the importance of risks associated with college enrollment for educational attainment and inequality. In recent years, he has taught a doctoral course in macroeconomics at the University of Virginia and authored a book entitled “Big Ideas in Macroeconomics.” Most recently, he served as a member of the Back to Work Virginia task force, a committee to re-envision and sustain a more equitable child care system for the Commonwealth. He earned his doctorate from the University of Iowa.

“We welcome Kartik to our dedicated team of statewide business and community leaders, all of whom are deeply committed to eliminating the disparities that have a profound impact on school readiness for at-risk children across the Commonwealth,” said Ned W. Massee, president of Croatan Advisors and board chair of the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation. “His insights and research will contribute greatly in all aspects of our work to build equitable and durable early childhood systems in Virginia.”

 

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About the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation: VECF creates results-oriented partnerships to ensure that young children are healthy and prepared for school, life and workforce success. To learn more about VECF and the Back to Work Virginia Task Force, visit archive.vecf.org.

 

Media Contact: Sara Hunt, SaraHuntPR@gmail.com, 804-994-1120

Richmond, VA (Oct. 13, 2020) – The Virginia Chamber Foundation and the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation (VECF) hosted a virtual executive briefing for statewide business leaders on “The Economics of Early Childhood: Smart Beginnings for Virginia’s Workforce Pipeline.” The event, held virtually on Oct. 13, focused on the rapidly changing early childhood landscape as Virginia continues to navigate through the COVID-19 crisis.

Guest speakers for the Executive Briefing were:

• Tom Barkin, President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, shared insights on the critical role of the child care industry to a healthy economy for the Commonwealth.
• Co-chairs of the Back to Work Virginia Task Force, which was established in May 2020 as a proactive response to the disruption that the pandemic has caused for employers, working parents, and the child care industry, shared findings from their collaborative efforts to develop assertive recommendations for stabilizing and strengthening the child care system in Virginia. Final recommendations will be released later this month. Task Force chairs are Deborah DiCroce, President & CEO, Hampton Roads Community Foundation; Jim Dyke, Senior Advisor-State Government Relations, McGuireWoods Consulting, LLC; and Stephen Moret, President & CEO, Virginia Economic Development Partnership. The panel discussion was moderated by Mike Petters, President & CEO of Huntington Ingalls Industries.

The 7^th annual executive briefing, which drew nearly 200 business, education, and legislative leaders from across the Commonwealth, is an opportunity to reinforce that a strong educational start for children is linked to a stable, talented future workforce. Given the ongoing impacts from COVID-19, this year’s event underlined the essential role of child care in supporting a return to work for families and fueling Virginia’s economic recovery.

Both of the sponsoring organizations are committed to advancing quality early learning initiatives in the state:

• Blueprint Virginia 2025, coordinated by the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, highlights the direct connection between a strong start in the early years and a vibrant, productive workforce for the Commonwealth. This comprehensive strategic plan provides business leadership, direction and long-range economic development planning for Virginia.
• The Virginia Early Childhood Foundation and its network of regional partners are focused on ensuring that communities across Virginia have capacity to support the good health and school readiness of young children, including the child care needs of families.

“The ongoing pandemic has reinforced the vital need for greater access to affordable, high-quality school readiness support for young learners throughout the Commonwealth,” said Barry DuVal, President & CEO of the Virginia Chamber. “As working families continue to navigate the broader challenges of COVID-19, we must work to increase the supply of safe, quality child care options as a component of the economic recovery efforts in Virginia.”

“Every Virginian benefits when children have the means and opportunity to succeed,” said Ned W. Massee, board chair of the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation and President of Croatan Advisors. “Working collaboratively with business and community leaders throughout the state, we are committed to creating a strengthened and more equitable child care system for Virginia’s bright future.”

 

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About the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation: VECF creates results-oriented partnerships to ensure that young children are healthy and prepared for school, life and workforce success. To learn more about VECF and the Back to Work Virginia Task Force, visit archive.vecf.org.

 

About the Virginia Chamber Foundation: The Virginia Chamber Foundation tracks Virginia’s economic competitiveness, conducts research and analysis, and hosts programs connected to the priorities of Blueprint Virginia 2025. In December 2017, the Chamber released an update to its long-term strategic economic development plan, Blueprint Virginia 2025, which engaged over 6,000 business and community leaders to lay out a plan to getting Virginia back to the top of national business climate rankings. In the fall of 2020, the Virginia Chamber will begin to cultivate policy recommendations and foster key discussions for the next update, Blueprint Virginia 2030. Learn more at www.vachamber.com/foundation.

 

 

Media Contact: Sara Hunt, SaraHuntPR@gmail.com, 804-994-1120

Richmond, Va. (Sept. 16, 2020) – The Virginia Early Childhood Foundation (VECF), a statewide convener between public and private sectors to create transformative early childhood care and education solutions for Virginia, elected five new board members at the organization’s fall board meeting on Sept. 16.

 

Danny Avula, M.D. is the director of the Richmond City and Henrico County Health Departments. A public health physician who is board certified in pediatrics and preventative medicine, he continues to practice clinically as a pediatric hospitalist. Dr. Avula was appointed by Governor McAuliffe to the State Board of Social Services in 2013, and served as board chair from 2017-2019. Also, he serves on a number of community boards including Communities in Schools and the Richmond Memorial Health Foundation. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia, a medical degree from the VCU School of Medicine and a master’s degree in public health from Johns Hopkins University.

 

Mike Chinn is a partner at Endicott Growth Equity Partners in Charlottesville, Va. Previously, he had spent 21 years at Charlottesville-based SNL Financial and served as the company’s CEO from 2008 to 2015. After the sale of SNL to S&P Global, he was named president of S&P’s $1.8 billion in revenue Market Intelligence division, serving in that capacity until early 2019. For over 20 years, he has served on the United Way of Greater Charlottesville’s board and recently completed a three-year term as board chair. In 2015, he co-founded the Charlottesville-Albemarle Early Education Task Force to establish clear priorities and better coordinate activities across the numerous partners who focus on the early childhood arena. In addition, he recently joined the board of ReadyKids in Charlottesville.

 

Bryan Hill was appointed as the 10^th county executive for Fairfax County, Va., in 2017, where he oversees the annual development and approval of Fairfax County’s multi-billion-dollar budget. He also manages the daily operations of the organization, which includes 12,000 employees providing support and services to Fairfax County’s 1.3 million residents. Among his many responsibilities is leading the development of a countywide strategic plan and overseeing the implementation of One Fairfax, the county’s joint social and racial equity policy. A member of the board of trustees for his undergraduate alma mater, Alfred University, he is a member of the International City/County Management Association’s Advisory Board on Graduate Education. He earned a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Southern California.

 

Xavier Richardson is the senior vice president and chief corporate development officer of Mary Washington Healthcare in Fredericksburg, Va. In that capacity, he is responsible for managing fundraising and assisting with grant-making efforts for community organizations, as well as managing the community benefit program and services, and legislative and community affairs. He oversees the Mary Washington Hospital Foundation, the Stafford Hospital Foundation and Mary Washington Healthcare Community Programs. Prior to joining Mary Washington Healthcare in 1997, he had served as assistant director of the U.S. General Accounting Office in Washington, D.C. and he had worked on Wall Street in New York City with McKinsey & Company. He received a bachelor’s degree from Princeton University, an MBA from Harvard Business School and an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Saint Paul’s College.

 

Jamelle S. Wilson, Ed.D. serves as the fifth dean of the School of Professional and Continuing Studies at the University of Richmond and is a professor in the School’s Educational Leadership and Policy Studies graduate program. Previously, she had served as superintendent of schools for Hanover County, as well as having been a classroom teacher, principal and assistant superintendent, among other positions with the county. In 2015, she was named Region 1 Superintendent of the Year. In 2017, she was appointed by Governor McAuliffe to the Virginia Board of Education. Dr. Wilson currently serves as vice president of the Virginia Board of Education and some of her more recent involvements include being a member of the Board of Governors of the International Baccalaureate Organization and serving on the Board of Governors of the Community Foundation for a Greater Richmond. She holds bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Virginia and an additional master’s degree from VCU.

 

“We welcome Danny, Mike, Bryan, Xavier and Jamelle to our dedicated team of statewide business and community leaders, all of whom are deeply committed to ensuring a strong start for every child in the Commonwealth,” said Ned W. Massee, president of Croatan Advisors and board chair of the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation. “Their many years of experience in their respective fields of expertise and influence will provide unique insights to our work as we strive to shape and inform a vision for equity in early childhood development and school readiness in Virginia.”

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About the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation: VECF creates results-oriented partnerships to ensure that young children are healthy and prepared for school, life and workforce success. To learn more about VECF and the Smart Beginnings initiatives, visit archive.vecf.org.

 

Media contact: Sara Hunt, SaraHuntPR@gmail.com, 804-994-1120

The Campagna Center in partnership with Smart Beginnings Alexandria

Serving 60 children in the city of Alexandria

Smart Beginnings Southwest Virginia

Serving 70 children in Giles County, Montgomery County, Pulaski County, the city of Radford, and Russell County

Smart Beginnings Greater Richmond

Serving 120 children in Chesterfield County, Henrico County, and the city of Richmond

 

Virtual Amended Agenda

PowerPoint Slides

Recorded Webinar

 

Fourth Round of Mixed Delivery Grantees 

On June 3, 2019, Governor Northam announced the fourth round of Mixed-Delivery Preschool Grants. Full implementation grants were awarded to four local communities and planning grants to two communities. Learn more about fourth round grantees here.

Gloucester County Public Schools (Gloucester County)
Hampton Roads Community Action Program (Hampton)
Henrico Education Foundation (Henrico County)
Town of New Market (Shenandoah and Page Counties)
United Way of Central Virginia (Lynchburg)
United Way of Southwest Virginia (Buchanan County and Norton)*

*In 2020, the footprint of Mixed Delivery Grantee, United Way of Southwest Virginia, changed from Buchanan County and Norton to Buchanan County and Wise County.

 

Third Round of Mixed Delivery Grantees

On December 10, 2018, Governor Northam announced the third round of Mixed-Delivery Preschool Grants to 6 local communities. Learn more about third round grantees here.

ACT for Alexandria Early Care and Education Workgroup (Alexandria)
Early Learning Project, College of Education, James Madison University (Harrisonburg/Rockingham County)
Rappahannock County Public Schools (Rappahannock County) 
United Way – Greater Charlottesville (Charlottesville/Albemarle County)
United Way of Roanoke Valley (Cities of Roanoke and Salem; Counties of Roanoke, Botetourt, Franklin)
New River Valley Regional Commission (Counties of Montgomery, Pulaski, Giles, Floyd)

 

Second Round of Mixed Delivery Grantees

On June 16, 2017, Governor McAuliffe announced the second round of Mixed-Delivery Preschool Grant Program grantees. Learn more about second round grantees here.

Fairfax County Office for Children (Fairfax County)
Fauquier County Public Schools (Fauquier County)
Smart Beginnings Greater Richmond (Chesterfield County)
Smart Beginnings Southwest Virginia (Carroll, Russell and Tazewell Counties and City of Bristol)
Total Action for Progress (Craig County)

 

First Round of Mixed Delivery Grantees

On August 4, 2016, VECF in consultation with the Virginia Department of Education, awarded the first round of Mixed-Delivery Preschool Grants to five local communities. Learn more about first round grantees here.

James Madison University
Smart Beginnings Rappahannock Area
United Way of Roanoke Valley
United Way - Thomas Jefferson Area
Wythe County Public Schools