Even Start receives funds from Ronald McDonald House

Mary A. Castillo

The Even Start Preschool Program at the Boys & Girls Club of Laguna

Beach received $9,500 in funding from the Ronald McDonald House Charities

of Southern California. The money was granted to finance the Nutrition

Program at the preschool.

“Our goal is to help children to be ready to learn,” said Terry Ann

Barman, director of Even Start. “But they can’t do that on empty

stomachs.”

The funds will help Terry Ann and her staff prepare a healthy snack

for the morning and a nutritious lunch prior to end of class.

Also, the preschool program will continue to offer health and

nutrition classes to the parents that help them plan and prepare

nutritious, low-cost meals.

Even Start is a free preschool program offered to 3- and 4-year-old

children from qualifying low-income families in Laguna Beach and

surrounding communities. Currently there are 21 children enrolled. In its

second year, the Even Start Preschool also received $1,000 from the

Presbyterian Church of Laguna Beach, and $500 from the Soroptimist Club

of Laguna Beach.