Pictured, left to right, are: Bill Rush, executive director; Jessica Storey, YMCA preschool director; Caroline Walker, SunTrust vice president, Commercial Banking; Janet Dunn, president & CEO for the YMCA of Metropolitan Chattanooga; and Eric Anderson, SunTrust senior vice president, commercial relationship manager
YMCA of Metropolitan Chattanooga today announced it received a $30,000 grant from Truist Foundation to help the YMCA continue its outstanding work through the Language Immersion
Preschool. The grant will help provide access for low- to moderate-income families and improve long-term outcome opportunities for children with high-quality Pre-K programs and interventions.
“The YMCA Language Immersion Early Learning Center was developed through data-driven research that demonstrates that cognitive development increases significantly when a second language is introduced to early learners,” said Bill Rush, branch executive director, J.A. Henry Community YMCA. “Our goal is to build a diversified center that promotes the cognitive, social-emotional and healthy development.”
Mr. Rush adds that the grant from Truist Foundation will help reduce the financial barriers for low- to moderate-income families. “By decreasing this barrier, children who typically are not enrolled in early learning centers will have access, and early learners who speak Spanish as a primary language will increase their English skills to be ready for kindergarten. Families will gain support from each other as well as the YMCA through our commitment to the family,” Mr. Rush said.
“At Truist our purpose is to inspire and build better lives and communities,” said Johnny Moore, Tennessee regional president on behalf of the Truist Foundation. “This grant is an investment in our youngest community members and will provide them with a solid basis to accelerate their future educational success.”