Partner with Sioux Falls Hope Coalition
What is the Hope Coalition?
The Hope Coalition grew out of a yearlong series of meetings among business, civic, nonprofit and faith leaders in the community in 2015–2016. The subject: As growing income gaps created more families in poverty, what could the community do to break that cycle? The solution: help children in poverty start kindergarten on a level playing field by making preschool a reality for all. The Hope Coalition is committed to using existing resources in the community to accomplish this goal. In our first year, 40 children attended preschool through this initiative. We continue to grow our enrollment and number of partner preschools each year to meet the needs of families in the Sioux Empire. Since our first year in 2017-2018 we have connected nearly 600 children with the preschool experience.
The Sioux Falls Promise
Few things are more tragic than untapped potential in children. In a state where equal opportunity still matters, the Hope Coalition believes every child ought to be able to start kindergarten ready to learn. Studies show preschool is the best way to equip them with the necessary skills. Yet the families of as many as 300 to 400 children in Sioux Falls cannot afford to send them to preschool. On behalf of the community, we PROMISE to give them that chance.
Hope Coalition Staff and Board of Directors
“I was looking everywhere for school for (my son) and I couldn’t find it, but by the time I found the school here (at Hope Coalition), my hope came back.’’
CLAUDINE KUBWAYO, PARENT
Key Partnerships
From the beginning, the Hope Coalition has been committed to using existing resources in the community to address the needs of children within families with a limited income. This year, up to 325 children will be enrolled in high quality programs at thirteen preschool partners: Abiding Savior Academy Preschool, Bishop O’Gorman Catholic Schools, Boys & Girls Club of the Sioux Empire, Celebrate Kingdom KiDS Preschool, Central Downtown Preschool, Compassion Preschool, Good News Children’s Center, Graham Academy Preschool, Little Wings Preschool, Peace Lutheran Preschool, Shalom Lutheran Preschool, Sioux Falls Christian School, Sioux Falls First Learning Center, Spirit of Joy Preschool.
The Sioux Falls School District and area school districts are equally valuable partners. They have helped place children in Hope Coalition preschools who are on a waiting list for federally subsidized programs such as Head Start.
Why Invest in Preschool
Preschool is a major influence throughout a child’s life. In school, it leads to better grades, higher reading aptitude, and better graduation rates. A child’s experiences in preschool influence decisions for decades:
It has been estimated that every dollar invested in preschool returns nearly $9 in economic benefit – in stable families, good jobs and lower crime.
If a child graduates from high school, waits until marriage to have a baby and lands and keeps a job by 21, there is only a 2 percent chance they will end up in poverty. If they do none of those things, her chances of ending up in poverty increase to 80 percent.
Goals for the Future
As many as 350 to 400 children entering kindergarten in Sioux Falls area have not had the opportunity to attend preschool. The goal of the Sioux Falls Promise, the initiative of the Hope Coalition, is to give each of those children the chance to attend preschool.
How to Help
It costs about $2,500 to send a child to a Hope Coalition preschool for a year. Your tax deductible donations are essential to building sustainable funding that can help erase the waiting list for preschool in Sioux Falls.
Would you like to make a donation?
Tax-deductible donations can be mailed to:
2601 S. Minnesota Ave, Suite 105 - PMB #346 Sioux Falls, SD 57105
For more information about charitable giving please email Amy Benda at amy@sfhopecoalition.org.
