The Carl Angus DeSantis Foundation has awarded a $365,000 grant to the Achievement Centers for Children & Families to support its nationally accredited Early Learning Program (ELP) in Delray Beach, Florida. The grant addresses critical needs in early childhood education for underserved families in southern Palm Beach County, where many households face systemic barriers such as poverty and limited access to quality education.
The ELP serves up to 109 children ages 1 to 5 at the Nancy K. Hurd campus, delivering over 2,485 service hours annually through a curriculum focused on six essential developmental domains. The program provides more than 47,000 meals each year, maintains low teacher-to-child ratios, and employs 22 full-time, highly credentialed educators. These efforts ensure children are kindergarten-ready, laying the foundation for lifelong academic and social success.
Stephanie Seibel, CEO of Achievement Centers, emphasized the grant's transformative impact: “The Carl Angus DeSantis Foundation’s support lifts a tremendous burden from our organization, allowing Achievement Centers to continue delivering full-day, year-round care while expanding services that meet the evolving needs of our children and families.” She noted that the funding enables staff to focus on program innovation and long-term sustainability, with ripple effects across afterschool programs, teen initiatives, and family support services.
Each year, Achievement Centers serves more than 760 children and their families, primarily in Delray Beach, where the average household income is just $24,592. The ELP provides an essential lifeline, particularly to working single-parent households and children at risk of falling through the cracks. The grant from the DeSantis Foundation directly helps sustain and strengthen one of the region’s most impactful early education initiatives.
“The DeSantis Foundation’s gift is more than financial; it is a vote of confidence in our mission and in the future of our community’s youngest learners,” said Ms. Seibel. She extended gratitude on behalf of the children, families, and staff for the partnership and belief in the transformative power of early education. For more information about the Achievement Centers for Children & Families, visit www.achievementcentersFL.org.
