Couple donates $10 million to keep Head Start programs running during shutdown
More than 50 Head Start programs were forced to shut their doors on October 1 as a result of the shutdown.
But two philanthropists have donated $10 million to keep the nation’s Head Start programs running.
Laura and John Arnold offered the emergency funding to the National Head Start Association so the programs can remain open.
Head Start serves “the poorest of the poor in our country from ages 0-5 to get them ready for kindergarten,” Head Start spokeswoman Sally Aman said. […] The Association noted that many low-income parents do not have the luxury of alternative care for their children and when Head Start centers close, they are forced to miss work. “We believe that it is especially unfair that young children from underprivileged communities and working families pay the price for the legislature’s collective failures,” the Arnolds said in a statement.
The money will allow seven Head Start programs in six states to reopen. The programs were expecting to receive their federally allotted grant on Oct. 1 but did not as a result of the shutdown.
As a result of congress’ failure to pass a budget for the country, over 7,000 children were unable to attend Head Start.
Thoughts on the donation?
Does the fact that citizens had to come to the rescue of government programs say something about our congressional leaders?
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