Building a Brighter Future for York’s Children
Since 1987, Community Connections for Children (CCC) has been a lifeline for low-income working families in York, helping them navigate the complex world of childcare and providing crucial resources to early childhood education (ECE) providers – ensuring every child has the opportunity for a successful start.
By working alongside childcare providers, parents, government, businesses and community leaders, CCC is focused on expanding access to affordable, high-quality childcare and preparing children to enter kindergarten fully prepared to thrive.
From helping new providers open their doors to launching programs that strengthen family engagement and educator development, CCC’s impact has touched thousands of families – all while staying true to its mission to connect families to resources, collaborate with early education programs and engage with the community to create a solid foundation for children to be successful in life.
Behind many of its most transformative initiatives is a longtime partner and advocate for early education: the Powder Mill Foundation.
Louis Appell, Jr., was deeply committed to advancing high-quality early learning, supporting various ECE centers and initiatives. Through the Powder Mill Foundation, that commitment continues today, ensuring CCC can reach more families and raise the bar for quality childcare in the region.
Thanks to the Powder Mill Foundation’s support, CCC launched Every Child Has Opportunities, ECHO in January 2024. Co-led by the York County Economic Alliance and backed by the foundation as a lead supporter, ECHO is a community-wide initiative designed to increase capacity in high-quality early childhood education programs, especially for low-income families.
Although I did not know Mr. Appell personally, he and the Powder Mill Foundation have been steadfast champions of early childhood education, understanding it’s unique role in developing children and supporting the current workforce and local economy.
Katie Caples, ECHO Director, Community Connections for Children
In just its first year, ECHO’s results speak for themselves:
- $440,000 awarded to empower 15 home-based ECE providers to open their doors, creating access for more than 420 children and generating 95 new jobs for the community.
- $1.2 million in innovation grants awarded to 28 existing programs, expanding capacity by 540 children and benefiting more than 2,200 young learners across the region.
- A teacher aide apprenticeship program, enrolling 13 aspiring educators in credentialing courses at HACC, all while gaining invaluable hands-on experience at seven local centers.
While ECHO is a new program, its roots run deep. The late Mr. Appell and Mrs. Appell were longtime supporters of early learning, believing that strong childcare systems were essential for strong communities. Their legacy, carried forward through the Powder Mill Foundation, continues to shape the future of York County – one child, one family, one opportunity at a time.
Early childhood education is the backbone of every other industry. Families can’t go to work if they don’t have safe, reliable care. And when that care is high-quality, it also prepares the next generation to succeed in school – and in life.
Katie Caples
