Helen Gordon Child Development Center is a licensed, accredited and five-star rated full day program
The Helen Gordon Child Development Center (HGCDC) provides quality early childhood education for the children of Portland State University’s students, faculty, staff, and community neighbors. Now, thanks to the largest gift in its 50-year history, it plans to do this even better with financial assistance for lower income families, upgraded technology, enhanced safety, improvements to the learning playground, and by building staff culture and capacity.
“This gift underscores the value of investments made to support early childhood programs and families, which in turn build healthy communities,” says Mary Schumacher-Hoerner, the center’s director. “We are humbled and so thankful for the gift. We really wanted to use the funds to make investments in areas that would benefit HGCDC in the long term, so we chose projects that we can continue to build on.”
Fall 2021, the center returned to full capacity, putting to good use the donation, which was made by a couple passionate about the approaches to early childhood education used at Helen Gordon, and benefits high quality early childhood care can provide not only for the children themselves, but for their families. Trusting in the wisdom of the Helen Gordon’s exceptional team, the $105,342 contribution was given unrestricted, leaving it up to the school to determine the best use for the funds.
“They are visionaries who truly see the value in investing in our youngest learners and the amazing staff at Helen Gordon. Their gift will support the center right away, as it begins to recover from pandemic-related challenges. But the really inspiring thing, is that it will continue to provide positive ripple effects into the future,” said Kari Lawrence of the PSU Foundation.
The center enrolls more than 200 children aged 4 months to 5 years, making it a vibrant learning community for current and future educators in PSU’s College of Education as well as PSU’s School of Social Work.
“This gift is quite significant in that it will have a strong positive impact on many people in our community for years to come. Supporting the center will benefit kids – and we know that high quality, early childhood education programs lead to significant, positive societal effects,” says Dr. Jose Coll, who is currently both dean of the School of Social Work and interim dean of the College of Education at PSU.
Tuition assistance
“One of the most important things we wanted to do was put some of this gift towards our tuition assistance program for all families,” says Schumacher-Hoerner. “Even though we are able to maintain a reasonable tuition for children, the cost of childcare is just sometimes out of reach for many families going to school.”
When student-parents have high-quality, reliable childcare they are more likely to persist and complete their coursework and degrees. Tuition assistance benefits all families, including students, faculty, and staff members. The funds also help families who need childcare assistance due to a temporary situation.
Enhanced technology
This gift allowed the center to upgrade out-of-date technology platforms to improve operating systems in the classrooms, workrooms and administrative areas. New equipment includes six new desktop and monitors, 12 laptops, and radios used for safety communication during the day.
A safer, better learning playground
The center is earmarking some of the funds for the learning playground, allowing for a large project that would not be possible within the regular budget. The playground investment will dramatically improve the experience and safety of this active gross-motor skill development area. Protective shade over a portion of the playground will shield children from the increased heat and UV exposure Portland is experiencing.
“On its own, the center can afford the bare essentials and operations. With philanthropic gifts, they can innovate and rise to become the best,” says Lawrence.
Staff development
This gift will also support internal capacity building work, such as visioning and planning for the future. With all of the changes brought on by the pandemic, staff needs time to plan for and adjust and respond to an ever-changing context. The true magic of Helen Gordon happens in the interactions between teachers, children, and parents. Supporting teachers helps ensure the continuation of high-quality early childhood education in years to come.
In addition to supporting parent-students, staff, faculty, and community members, the second mission of the center is to provide an academic resource to Early Intervention, Early Childhood Education programs within the College of Education at PSU, as well as other departments and programs such as the Children Youth Families Services degree program under the School of Social Work. As a lab school, the HGCDC is a valuable addition to these programs, yet much of this instruction has shifted to online or hybrid formats, and the center needs to adapt.
“Our talented and knowledgeable staff needs opportunities to explore how we can emerge from the pandemic as strong, or stronger than we were when we went in.” says Schumacher-Horner.
INSPIRED TO GIVE? Click here to donate to HGCDC, or call the PSU Foundation to give through monthly paycheck deductions, stocks and securities, or estate plans. Telephone (503) 725-4478.