Crafton Heights Community Preschool, a ministry of the First U.P. Church of Crafton Heights, is a wonderful community institution that has blessed the lives of hundreds of neighbors. For nearly three decades, families of all kinds have received high-quality, low-cost early childhood education within these walls.

In an effort to make this resource available to every child, the program is heavily subsidized. This year, for instance, each child is only responsible for about 50% of the actual cost of Preschool: the other half comes by way of fund-raisers, grants, and financial appeals like this one. While it costs the Preschool $301.38 per month to nurture each student, the families are only responsible for $140/month. We have found that keeping the tuition low allows the Preschool to be as inclusive as possible.

Your gift of $161 will help us to nurture a child for a month. A gift of $1452 will allow us to extend that care for the entire school year - 9 months of carefully planned experiences and instruction that will prepare these children for success in kindergarten and beyond.

The impact of early childhood education cannot be overstated. During the developmental period between the ages of 3 to 5, a child continues to develop critical emotional, social, and cognitive skills that will carry over into their future schooling and adult lives. Research has shown that children who have the opportunity to attend Preschool are significantly more likely to graduate from High School and less likely to be arrested, go on welfare, or be unemployed as adults. Studies have shown clear positive effects on children's literacy and mathematics skills as well as their psycho-social development.

Look at the impact of the Crafton Heights Community Preschool over the years:

One recent graduate of CHCP, Daphne, started preschool not knowing the letters of her name, how to identify them or even how to write her name. Her teachers helped her learn the letters in her name and also helped her learn the difference between a ‘b’ and a ‘p’ and a ‘d’ which she always mixed up when she was learning to write her name. By the end of preschool, she could identify all the letters in her first name and write it with no issues. Daphne grew academically during her time at CHCP, and her and her mom, Mya, grew to feel like part of the CHCP family.

“I was absolutely stunned with just how much the preschool teachers not only loved and cared about the students, but they cared about us parents. Not only did we get gifts and crafts around holidays as keepsakes, but my family and I fell on some really hard times during my daughter's last year of preschool. Her former teachers from the 3-year-old room jumped in and rallied around us, bringing home cooked meals, and they stayed in close contact. I’ll be forever more grateful!”

Through this campaign, you have the opportunity to be part of the difference that CHCP is making in the Crafton Heights and Pittsburgh’s West End neighborhoods. We are asking for financial support so that we can continue to provide the high level of education and family support that we have been providing for 25+ years. If have questions about the Preschool and our mission to support children and families, please contact our Director, Mrs. Cheri Mack. Thank you for your consideration!

Crafton Heights Community Preschool Fall Campaign

By The First United Presbyterian Church of Crafton Heights

Crafton Heights Community Preschool Fall Campaign

Keeping Quality Early Childhood Education Affordable