When COVID-19 threatened to close the child care programs families depend on, CEC led efforts to advocate for and distribute emergency relief — San Mateo County CARES Act funds combined with community donations — to child care centers and family child care homes hit hardest by the pandemic.
Grants equaled approximately one month of operating expenses and reached programs serving the county’s most vulnerable children, keeping over 8,000 children connected to care and their parents connected to work.
Who made it possible
The fund was powered by San Mateo County, San Bruno Community Foundation, Google, Cal Water, Community Foundation of San Carlos, Facebook, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, New Community Church, the City of San Mateo, the City of San Carlos, and many private donors.
In a provider’s words
“This grant helped me to get back slowly to full operation. Parents who need to get back to work kept their jobs and those who work from home were able to work with very little or no disruption. I was able to keep my assistant who also needs the job. Funds helped with the additional expenses for cleaning and disinfecting supplies and some structural changes for health and safety measures.”
— Maria Montessori House, South San Francisco