News
Early Childhood Education Alliance celebrates five successful years
The Early Childhood Education Alliance (ECEA) was established in August of 2006 as an initiative of the Greater Alliance Foundation and is celebrating its fifth year. ECEA's main mission is to support, promote, and create dynamic learning environments for children, which will serve and benefit families, businesses, and community partners.
In 2005, several Greater Alliance Foundation trustees attended a breakfast hosted by the Sisters of Charity Foundation. During the meeting, the trustees heard of the importance of the first years of life and the positive long-term effects of quality early learning experiences. After gaining the support of Superintendent Steve Stohla of Alliance Public Schools and President Richard Giese of the University of Mount Union, the trustees made a substantial financial investment in early childhood education and set the foundation for the Early Childhood Education Alliance, Inc. Joe French was hired as director and ECEA has made tremendous accomplishments under his leadership over the past five years.
Over five years ago, the Greater Alliance Foundation trustees had the foresight and vision to establish an early childhood initiative. Today, ECEA, including $277,000 in funding from the Greater Alliance Foundation, has levied over one million dollars in support for early education and care in the Alliance community. This figure does not include the dollars invested by Alliance City Schools in intervention, public preschool and support services, nor does it include the monies spent by the private centers and family childcare providers. These are new dollars that have been used to specifically support young children, their families, and those who teach and care for them.
"Make the Impossible Possible" popular One Book selection
The 2011 eighth annual One Book - One Community project was a success. A total of nearly 600 students and teachers read the book Make the Impossible Possible, by Bill Strickland. Five schools within four school districts participated in this year's One Book program. The schools include Alliance High School, Alliance Middle School, Marlington High School, Sebring High School, and West Branch High School.
Pottery making was an important part of Mr. Strickland's life. One program had participants from Alliance High School involved in a project with the direction of art teacher, Erin Wozniak. The committee asked citizens and students to make "giving bowls" to be offered for sale at a silent art auction held at Rodman Library. Over 250 items were for sale and netted $908.00. The proceeds went to the Community Food Pantry.
In Sebring, JoAnn Jones, an English teacher at McKinley High School, was so moved by Mr. Strickland's accomplishments that she took her senior students to the Manchester Bidwell Training and Arts School in Pittsburgh for a day so they could see first-hand the possibilities that Mr. Strickland writes about in his book.
Patricia A. Stone, Chairman of One Book One Community, said, "We are indeed grateful for the past years of support of the Greater Alliance Foundation. Without its willingness to continue this educational outreach, our program would not reach so many youth in our community." The Greater Alliance Foundation's total grant for supplying the 562 books to the teachers and students was $5,299.66. Author Bill Strickland did Make the Impossible Possible for the hundreds of students and community members that participated.
Phase One of Alliance Watershed Protection Plan completed
Western Reserve Land Conservancy, grateful for the Greater Alliance Foundation's matching grant of $10,000, has successfully completed a watershed protection plan for the city of Alliance and its water system. More than 23,000 residents of Alliance and its surrounding townships have complained for years of the drinking waters musty taste and smell, the result of excess nutrients leaking into the Deer Creek Lake and Walborn Reservoir.
The new Alliance Source Watershed Protection Plan provides a guide for addressing the long-term problem that the city faces due to failing sewage systems, farmland, polluted streams and new developments. In addition, protecting land surrounding the watershed to promote natural soil filtration, efforts will be made to work with farmers to address nutrient runoff. The result will be higher quality drinking water that costs the city less each year.
The Land Conservancy team identified 76 priority parcels for conservation and an additional 27 parcels for restoration. Phase II will encompass working with the City of Alliance and local landowners to acquire or prevent development on the properties identified as critical to the watershed.
Beech Creek Botanical Gardens seeks to purchase 11.5 acres
Beech Creek Botanical Garden & Nature Preserve has been granted $28,750 from the Greater Alliance Foundation. The funds would help to purchase an 11.5 acre parcel of land that is adjacent to the existing property. Paul Carmichael, Exec. Director, said, "This land is very important for future development. Acquiring the parcel of land will provide access to the existing 164 acres and preserve green space and a small waterway."
The total cost for purchasing the 11.5 acres is $115,000. The organization also submitted a grant proposal in September to the District 19 Natural Resources Assistance Council, for the Clean Ohio Conservation Fund (COCF). The COCF requires a 25% funding match to receive the grant. The Greater Alliance Foundation trustees approved the 25% match, which is $28,750. The COCF grant if approved would fund $86,250 which is 75% of the amount needed for this land purchase.
Carmichael said, "This investment by The Greater Alliance Foundation will allow Beech Creek Botanical Garden & Nature Preserve to secure future development plans, and take a significant step forward to better serve the public and achieve its goals of creating a premiere public garden and environmental education facility."