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Save the Children Restoring Child Care in Mississippi
Pascagoula, Miss. (August 29, 2007) — Chevron and the Mississippi Hurricane Recovery Fund have awarded Save the Children $3.8 million for the agency's efforts to restore child care services to areas of Mississippi that were impacted by Hurricane Katrina.
"Sadly, even two years after Hurricane Katrina hit, many families are still struggling to find safe, reliable child care," said Mark Shriver, Vice President and Managing Director of Save the Children's U.S. Programs. "Without adequate child care services, parents cannot return to work, and families, forced to flee the area due to Hurricane Katrina, cannot return home."
Recognizing the severity of the problem, Save the Children has worked with Chevron, Mississippi State University and the Help and Hope Foundation to rebuild and resupply 37 child care centers in Mississippi's Harrison and Hancock Counties, where 80 percent of child care facilities were damaged or destroyed by Katrina. The partnership has produced nearly 2,400 child care slots, supporting not only families returning to their jobs, but the local economy as well.
The $3.8 million grant will allow Save the Children to construct two new, state-of-the-art child care centers in these counties, serving children living in the Bay-Waveland and Pass Christian school districts. Remaining funds will support Save the Children's programs in Katrina-affected areas.
"After disaster strikes, children and families often need the support of the entire community to get back on their feet," said Shriver. "Chevron should be commended for identifying this critical need for child care services and for their steadfast commitment to working with community partners to meet this need."
