The reason for investing philanthropic dollars in an educational program for needy women and their preschool children in a small section of a depressed city of the Northeast are, in many ways self-evident. However, since so many worthy causes compete for support from resources, we offer the following more detailed rationale for the funds we are requesting.

According to a recent report by the Bridgeport Child Advocacy Coalition, more than 40% of Bridgeport children live in single parent homes with mothers who are “isolated, overwhelmed by the tasks of daily living, and have little outside support.” The Coalition’s report goes on to link the first years of life to the child’s prospects for educational success. It asks why so few of our institutions invest their time and resources in ensuring the safe, successful passage of youngsters through this critical development period.

There is…greater growth and development in the infant’s first three years than of any period of human life. Yet, these are exactly the years most neglected by policy makers and service providers.

By contrast to many other employment, training and social service programs devised to help poor women support and educate their children, the programs of Caroline House seek to address precisely this convergence of interests between poor mothers and their very young children.