NEWS
Child Care Connection Executive Recognized for Philanthropy

Lincoln, RI (November 22, 2004)—November 23 is National Philanthropy Day in Rhode Island, and Kevin Fusco, President & CEO of Child Care Connection, is being recognized by Friends Way with a 2004 Partner in Philanthropy Award for his commitment to making Rhode Island a better place. The award will be presented at the Providence Performing Arts Center on November 23, 2004.

Fusco created a corporate partnership between Child Care Connection and Friends Way, with Friends Way receiving over $20,000 a year in funding as well as volunteer support from Child Care Connection employees. Friends Way, established almost five years ago, is a not-for-profit organization located in Warwick, RI, which operates a bereavement program for children coping with grief and loss. The group provides support and outreach to approximately 140 families each month at no charge. In addition, Friends Way visits schools to discuss general grief and loss and also provides workshops on grief coping skills and how to recognize at-risk behavior of children who are not coping well with loss.

According to Beth Sousa, Friends Way Director of Development, "Since Kevin came on board, his enthusiasm and support ideas have been great. In addition, he provided professional resources to develop some of our marketing materials, as well as made much-needed grants to our organization. He and the whole staff at Child Care Connection have made a real difference to our statewide community."

Fusco, a resident of Foxboro, MA, stated, "The award is wonderful, but the real honor is in helping to provide this unique support to children and their families at a time in their lives when they are experiencing shattering grief."

National Philanthropy Day was proclaimed by Congress to honor individuals who have furthered philanthropy through their generosity and exemplary volunteerism in Rhode Island, nonprofit organizations celebrate by honoring their Partners in Philanthropy at the Associations of Fundraising Professionals (Rhode Island Chapters') National Philanthropy Day Celebration.

Child Care Connection prides itself in providing their families with high quality care and learning and offers "The Creative Curriculum", a nationally recognized educational approach to teaching young children. Child Care Connection was founded in 1991 as a company dedicated to providing high quality child care services to infants, toddlers, preschool, kindergarten and school age children. The company opened its first child care center in Lincoln, RI in 1991 and has grown to 16 early learning centers throughout Rhode Island and Massachusetts.