Take a Bow with CELC's Bears Classroom!

Name/Company of Boat's Sponsor
Matt & Jill Wienke / Infoverity

Non-Profit that you are supporting
Columbus Early Learning Centers

Why you should vote for this non-profit
Ahoy! For over 134 years, Columbus Early Learning Centers (CELC) has provided affordable, high-quality early learning and care to Columbus children. We serve 300 kids a year in our five centers – children between 6 weeks and 5 years; primarily from low to no income families. Our mission is to help young learners develop, families succeed, and neighborhoods thrive. We believe all children have an early learning experience that gives them a foundation for future success in school and in life.

Our centers serve two of the highest need neighborhoods of Columbus, the Near East and Linden neighborhoods. Our service area targets residents living in the 43203, 43205, 43207, 43209, 43211, and 43219 zip codes and surrounding areas where the average annual income is $25,000, less than half the average for the city of Columbus.

The children in our service area are disproportionately faced with other stressors in addition to poverty- food insecurity, housing instability, domestic violence, substance abuse - which regularly impact brain development, increasing the odds of social and learning challenges. CELC strives to assist children and families with each challenge they face. CELC supports children and families between our centers and in the community with food pantry assistance, utility assistance, housing assistance, diaper assistance, PPE, holiday toy assistance, home visiting services and family education nights.

A special thank you to Matt & Jill Wienke/Infoverity for being our sponsor!

Help CELC ride the waves to victory! Vote today!