Name of Your Sponsor
Continental Building Company

Name of Your Nonprofit
Columbus Early Learning Centers

Tell us about your organization and why people should vote for you
The "HMS Bright Minds" is full sails ahead to a promising future, powered by the potential of young minds! Hand painted and collaged by our "Frogs" classroom at our Champion Avenue Center, this boat carries with it the full possibility that early learning offers.

Columbus Early Learning Centers (CELC) has been providing high-quality early learning and affordable care to our city's children since 1887.

CELC’s services make it possible for parents to work or attend school, while children are cared for in education-focused classrooms staffed by highly qualified early childhood teachers. CELC impacts the lives of approximately 200 children annually who are either enrolled in one of four centers or benefit from home visiting.

Typically 95% of students receive public subsidies or tuition assistance and over 75% live in households earning less than 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. Additional families are served through community-based programming such as various wraparound services including access to housing and utility assistance, food security and holiday support. The established mission of Columbus Early Learning Centers is to help young learners develop, families succeed, and neighborhoods thrive.