Lunch & Learn Seminars for Working Parents

Learn more about the importance of high quality early education, by hosting a Smart Beginings Lunch & Learn seminar at your workplace!  Seminars are typically 45 min-1 hour during the lunch break and include a free SBGR lunch tote for each attendee.  Call 540-777-4211 or email kris@uwrvr.org for more information.

pdfLunch & Learn Slideshow "Do you know what to look for?"

Opportunities for Involvement

There are many exciting opportunities to become involved in Smart Beginnings Greater Roanoke (SBGR). Some of the current opportunities are:
  • Volunteer at a SBGR event
  • Serve as a community advocate for the importance of early childhood learning
  • Help promote early SBGR in the community
  • Include SBGR Information within your company
  • Hang SBGR posters in company
  • E-mail employees about SBGR events and services
  • Host a parent workshop for your employees
  • Sponsor a SBGR activity or program
  • Write a letter to the editor or Op Ed.
  • Allow SBGR to sponsor a company event or training
  • Encourage other business leaders to become involved in SBGR
  • Assist with fundraising
  • Be a financial donor
For more information about becoming involved in Smart Beginning Greater Roanoke contact 540.777.4211.
Businesses

Businesses In today’s struggling economy all businesses are looking for opportunities that offer the greatest return on investment. Early childhood education is key to the development of a vibrant and skilled workforce, and studies have shown that every $1 you invest in early childhood education yields a ROI of between $7 and $17.

One of the most profound issues facing our community today is that many of the 20 percent of children entering kindergarten unprepared have to repeat grades which create a huge tax burden on our community. These children have an extremely difficult time being successful in school, and that difficulty extends into their working life. In 10 years, 40 percent of Virginia’s workforce will be eligible for retirement and the Smart Beginnings of Greater Roanoke Coalition is dedicated to ensuring that tomorrow’s workforce can meet the needs of your business.

An investment today in early childhood education will return benefits to your business and the Roanoke region’s future economy. Did you know that today:

  • Low reading scores in third grade are indicators of future crime rates and one of the criteria used in estimating future prison and jail population.
  • In Virginia, 12,000 students in grades K-3 were not promoted in 2002-03. It costs taxpayers $95.7 million annually in Virginia for un-promoted children.

Smart Beginnings of Greater Roanoke is working to help every child in the Roanoke Valley enter kindergarten emotionally, socially, academically, and physically ready to succeed in school, in work, and in life. They will:

  • Provide support and information to parents and family members raising children
  • Improve the quality of early childhood programs
  • Ensure young children have access to health supports and services.

Smart Beginnings of Greater Roanoke will work to create a culture of change to address these issues. A minor investment in the program can ensure major dividends in a productive future workforce.

We need your help to continue to improve the economic outlook of our community’s workforce. I hope you’ll follow the lead of the Roanoke Times, Cox, The Business Council, and others by investing in a productive workforce.

To find out more about how you can get involved with Smart Beginnings of Greater Roanoke call 540.777.4206.
 
“My baby book says that the pediatrician will check for developmental milestones during the check-ups. This is not the case. It is so nice to have someone come to my home solely for the purpose of assessing my child’s development. Sometimes, my daughter will be missing some of the behaviors at the time of the visit. Then, it is so neat to see her learn them over the next few weeks.”

Cindy Bohland, mother of Isabella