Knox County Head Start celebrated its 50th anniversary in Knox County on Friday afternoon at the New Hope Early Education Center.
From its early days as Kokosing Day Care Centers to its centers in Fredericktown, Danville, Northgate, New Hope Early Education Center, Gambier and Centerburg, the center celebrated its golden anniversary of providing quality education to infants and children of Knox County since 1965.
Peg Tazewell, executive director of KCHS, opened the celebration with thanks to all who attended, from parents to children, staff, community members and supporters.
“Head Start has a really incredible place in my heart ... this community was planted ahead of the game and we began talking about the importance of education for children who were growing up in poverty in the fall of 1964, and they made the decision to found Kokosing Day Care Centers and it was largely members of local churches,” Tazewell said.
Knox County Commissioner Teresa Bemiller read a proclamation congratulating KCHS on its accomplishments over the past 50 years and that “we are so fortunate to have such a great program in our county.” Bemiller read that in its first days, Kokosing Day Care Centers only had about 28 children in their program, and today they have over 350 children in attendance.
A special proclamation of recognition was also provided to KCHS by Rep. Margaret Ann Ruhl.
Jen Odenweller, executive director of the United Way of Knox County, spoke a few words on the importance and the impact that KCHS has made within the community.
“To pause and think of 50 years ... think of how many years you’ve been involved, whether you’ve had children in the program, maybe you’ve been gone a while and come back, you’re a staff member or volunteer, you’ve played an important role in lives of young children in our community ... there really is no better investment than our young children in our community,” Odenweller said.
Carolyn Addair shared her personal story with KCHS, as her first experience was as a volunteer in high school. Later, Addair said when she became a mother one of her children was eligible for speech therapy through the services of KCHS.
“We were eligible and it was a blessing. For two years we not only received speech therapy, it was all the other programs that came with it — the parenting classes, the behavioral modification. I could always talk to someone while I was at work, ‘This is what’s going on, can you help me?’” Addair said, adding that after her son entered elementary school she continued on at KCHS on the board and “loved everybody.”
“It was the pay back for the services I was given, and I’m so thankful,” Addair said.
After a video presentation on the history and impact of Head Start across all types of communities and families, Mark Kohlman, board chairman, offered closing remarks, thanking staff members and parents who have been with KCHS for over 20 years, and asking all staff past and present to stand in recognition.
“I’ve been on the board for 10 years and I worked for Head Start for two years and it still inspires me, the dedication that the employees have for this organization,” Kohlman said.
After the celebration everyone gathered at the front entrance to New Hope Early Education Center to plant a rose bush in honor of the 50th anniversary.
http://mountvernonnews.com/story/2015/05/23/head-start-celebrates-50-years/
