By SALINA POST
Salina Area United Way is excited to announce that the organization has received a substantial donation of $75,000 from Salina Regional Health Foundation to the Early Childcare Initiative Fund.
The donation will help sponsor 15 local childcare teachers and ensure that they not only earn a living wage but also help keep our centers fully staffed, which will open more childcare slots.
According to a Salina Area United Way statement, the donation is a huge and crucial step towards making strong and lasting steps in combating childcare issues and shortages due to the workforce in Saline County. Salina Regional Health Foundation is the seventh business/organization to donate towards the fund.
“We can’t thank Salina Regional Health Foundation enough for their commitment and support to the Saline County community and for helping further the childcare needs here,” said Salina Area United Way Executive Director, Claire Ludes. “This is a great stride forward in momentum on our mission to combat the childcare shortage that we are currently facing in Saline County by working to secure and retain a workforce to care for our local children.”
In April of 2023, Salina Area United Way announced the start and opening of the Early Childcare Initiative Fund at their organization. Through this fund, local centers will be able to apply on an annual basis for wage supplement grants, to bring assistant teachers to $15/hr. and lead teachers to $18/hr.
Currently, nearly all childcare centers in Saline County, except for one, are paying $4 less than the wages listed above.
Salina Area United Way hopes that the Salina Regional Health Foundation, as well as the other six businesses that have donated to the fund, will continue to encourage and spark other local businesses and organizations in the community to make a donation to the Early Childhood Initiative Fund and see the impact it can make on the workforce and recruitment and retention of workers.
For more information about Salina Area United Way and the Early Childhood Initiative Fund, or how you can donate, please call the SAUW office at 785-827-1312 or email the Early Childcare Initiative Director, Christina Small. Stay tuned for more upcoming information regarding the Early Childcare Initiative Fund.