The Madison Rotary Club recently awarded a $1,000 grant to Preschool Advantage, a non-profit organization that seeks to improve local communities by funding quality preschool for children of families in need.

At its July 12 breakfast meeting at the Madison Area YMCA, the Madison Rotary Club presented a check to Preschool Advantage Director of Development Anneke Demarest.

“We are so grateful to Madison Rotary Club for their support,” said Demarest, “The grant directly helps our tuition fundraising goals that support families in need.”

Preschool Advantage’s vision is that all children should have access to high-quality early education. Experience has shown that children who attend a quality preschool are better educated, interact better with others, are healthier, and have higher economic productivity as adults than those who don’t get that opportunity.

Preschool Advantage identifies, qualifies and connects deserving families with high quality preschools, while providing funds to enable children to attend these preschools. Since its inception more than 20 years ago, almost 1,400 tuitions have been paid, and it is the organization’s goal to fund 100 tuitions each year by the year 2020. In the 2018-2019 school year 85 children have been funded. Information about the organization can be found at www.preschooladvantage.org or by calling (973) 532-2501.

Preschool Advantage partners with 23 preschools in Morris and Somerset counties. In Madison, the three partner preschools are Madison Montessori School, Rainbow Montessori School and The F.M. Kirby Children’s Center.  

The Madison Rotary Club, a group of 85 community oriented volunteers who are part of a 1.2 million member worldwide service organization, annually supports some 30 local education, arts, youth and humanitarian groups by awarding grants and sponsorships. The Club meets every Thursday, 7:30 a.m. at the Madison Area YMCA and at noon at the Madison Hotel (Convent Station).   Visit www.madisonrotarynj.org for further information.