“Invest in Our Children’s Future”

Your gift to early childhood education is more than a donation. It is an investment in families, futures, and the strength of our community.

Every dollar you give returns up to $16 in long-term value: better education, stronger families, a more inclusive Highland Park and Highwood 

High-quality early education changes lives and has lasting impact:

• Higher academic success and high school graduation rates
• Increased economic mobility and earning potential
• Stronger families who can work while their children are cared for
• Healthier communities with reduced crime and long-term public costs

When we invest in early childhood education, the entire community thrives.

Why HP Community Early Learning Center?
Lake County is a child care desert.

• 47,000+ children under age five
• 11,800+ of those children live at or under the poverty line
• Only 2,574 licensed child care slots in Lake County

Too many working families struggle to find safe, high-quality care. HP Community Early Learning Center is changing that.

Each year, we provide $240,000 in tuition assistance to help children attend our nurturing, inclusive, play-based preschool.

• $200,000 supports families living at and below the poverty line
• $40,000 supports ALICE families (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) We also assist middle-income families facing job loss, illness, housing instability, and other unexpected hardships.

Two-thirds of our students receive financial aid. Their parents can stay employed. Their children can
thrive.

Here’s how your donation can make an impact.

• $50
  Can support classroom educational projects and hands-on learning materials
• $100
  Can buy six bilingual hardcover books for one classroom
• $200
  Can provide a special enrichment activity, such as a yoga class, guest
  artist, drama class, or science demonstration 
• $350
  Can fund outdoor play equipment like balls, hula hoops, sidewalk chalk,
  tricycles, and more
• $500
  Can purchase a full year of art supplies, sensory toys, puzzles, and
  classroom materials for one classroom
• $1,000
  Can support a family engagement event like a picnic, concert, or cultural
  celebration
• $2,000
  Can fund Staff Appreciation Week with thoughtful meals, gifts, and
  surprises for our incredible team
• $3,500
  Can cover one month of hot, nutritious lunches for all students
• $5,000
  Can provide a year of professional development workshops and training for
  our educators
• $10,000
  Can help upgrade our technology, curriculum tools, and teaching resources
  center-wide
• $25,000
  Can provide one full year of tuition for a child who could not otherwise
  afford full-day preschool

Your Gift Builds a More Equitable Community

HP Community is more than a preschool. We are a place where children, families, and educators belong.

With a mission rooted in equity, we offer sliding-scale tuition, bilingual classrooms, culturally responsive teaching, and joyful play-based learning that reflects the diversity of Highland Park and Highwood.

When you give, you are not just supporting a school. You are investing in a child’s future, a family’s
stability, and a community where everyone can thrive. 

Be the Difference.

Make a gift today and help give every child the strong start they deserve.