Kids Helping Kids.
Olivia Stevens isn't your average 12-year old. While other kids are making lists of what they want Santa to bring them for Christmas, Olivia is figuring out new ways to make sure other children feel loved during the holidays. For the sixth year in a row, Olivia plans to raise money to buy items like toys, clothes and school supplies for as many Porter-Leath children as she can. She knows that some kids aren't as lucky as she, and rallies friends and family to collect donations for her cause. Last year alone, she was able to bring Christmas to eleven Porter-Leath families who may not have had a special gift without her help. Olivia shows that selflessness knows no age and that sometimes those who know how to helps kids best are kids themselves.
Want to learn how you can help the children of Porter-Leath at Christmas? Click here.
Getting Ahead.
"My son, Keilan Hulon, enrolled in the Early Head Start program at eight weeks old in June of 2000. Upon entering the program he developed using his cognitive, gross motor, fine motor, language, social emotional and self help skills extremely well. Through the Early Head Start program, I was fortunate that I met the programs guidelines and that I was able to see Keilan take his first crawl, step, and hear his first words. My son started the program with a bright future ahead, as an inspiring infant. He transitioned from the program with ambition. He was very eager to learn new things and very talented with using computers. He attended New Hope Christian Academy, Junior kindergarten program at the age of 4. He was required to take an entrance exam upon entering and was immediately accepted. The exam consisted of him identifying colors, numbers, gross motor skills, fine motor skills, etc.
Memphis City Schools would not accept him in their preschool program because after testing him, they reported to me that he was too advanced for their program. In kindergarten, Keilan remained on the Honor Roll the whole school term. At the end of the year, he received an Academic Achievement Award, an Outstanding Reading Award along with a gold reading medal.
Now Keilan is in the first grade where he is on the Principal's List making straight A's. He is reading above average for his grade and participates in the Accelerated Reader's Program. I personally feel that Porter-Leath's Early Head Start and Head Start programs have a lot to do with Keilan's achievements. The program has truly impacted not just my child's life but mine as well." — Shekina HulonWant to learn more about how Porter-Leath Head Start programs work? Click here. |
