This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Grant to Fund First 5 Programs for Preschoolers

First 5 San Diego is awarded more than $10 million to help children in need.

First 5 San Diego, the non-profit that promotes the vital importance of the first five years of life to the well-being of children, families and society, has received an award of more than $10 million for First 5 California’s Child Signature Program.

Supervisor Bill Horn, chair of the First 5 Commission, says that funding for early childhood education has faced dramatic cuts over the last couple of years. As a result, families in San Diego with the greatest need face limited access and lower quality of services. This grant insures the work will get done. The award will be leveraged through the First 5 San Diego Quality Preschool Initiative (QPI), a new early education initiative that will invest more than $55 million in the community over the next three years.

Set to begin this fall, QPI will provide high-quality preschool services to 3- and 4-year-olds in 12 communities in San Diego County, making them more likely to do better in school, graduate from college, get better jobs and stay out of trouble.

Find out what's happening in Powaywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

For information about First 5 San Diego go to www.first5sandiego.org.

ARE YOU MY TYPE?

Find out what's happening in Powaywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Abraxas High School Make a Difference blood drive is next Tuesday, Aug. 21, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the school’s basketball court. You don’t realize the importance of this gift until you experience a tragedy in your family or with someone you know. The school is located at 12450 Glen Oak Dr. in Poway. For more information call 858-748-5900, extension 2107.

POWAY DAYS KICKOFF MIXER

Partners in service to Poway will come together on Thursday Aug. 30 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in Old Poway Park, next to the Hamburger Factory, for the Poway Days Kickoff Mixer. The event is free to the public and will feature live entertainment provided by the Poway Center for Performing Arts, military band music and a beer and wine garden. Visit booths manned by Poway Partners including The Rotary Club of Poway, Poway Valley Riders Association, Poway Community Association, Boys and Girls Club, City of Poway, Soroptomist International of Poway, Kiwanis, RB Sunrise Rotary and the Poway Chamber of Commerce. Deputy Mayor Jim Cunningham will kick off Poway Days with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. And yes, there will be food from the Hamburger Factory.

IN MEMORY

A fundraiser on the first anniversary of the death of San Diego police officer Jeremy Henwood raised $4,000 for the San Diego Police Officers Association Widows and Orphans Fund, according to the POA. The event took place at the McDonald’s restaurant on Fairmont Avenue where Henwood bought cookies for a young boy in one of his final acts before being slain while on the job. SDPOA President Brian Marvel said they are truly appreciative for all the help from volunteers and donors who stepped up for officers and their families in this time of tragedy. Henwood was a four-year veteran of SDPD and a Marine reservist.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?