MILESTONE NIGHT FOR BRIGHTER FUTURES.
Brighter Futures For Children is marking a milestone tonight with its 10th annual fundraising event.
Each year, the Regina Early Learning Centre partners with the SCEP Centre and Knight Archer Insurance for a major fundraising event at the Casino Regina Show Lounge, with musical entertainment, a silent auction and prize draws in support of Brighter Futures for Children.
The beneficiaries of the event are the children and families served by two of Regina’s longest-running and best-known early childhood programs: SCEP Centre and the Regina Early Learning Centre. Both of these programs have a reputation for providing high-quality programming and have demonstrated positive outcomes for young children. Investments in young children lead to healthier children, stronger families and more vibrant communities.
SCEP, which takes its name from the socialization, communication and education program, is an intensive therapeutic preschool program for children two to five years of age who have behaviour and communication problems. It is designed to assist them and their families.
“Lots of times when the kids come to us, they have already experienced situations that have not gone well for them (daycare, preschool). And so they come to us and we try to help them with their behaviour and communication needs and hopefully a smooth transition into school,” said SCEP spokesperson Shauna Forbes.
The Regina Early Learning Centre was founded in 1977 when Anne Luke, who was teaching kindergarten in an inner-city school at the time, became increasingly concerned by the challenges children from low-income families faced. Luke and a group of parents found a small building in the inner city and, with volunteer help, the Early Learning Centre opened its doors to 10 children in October 1977.
Luke was their teacher and Muriel Lerat, a parent volunteer, became the second staff member. Luke and Lerat combined their unique experiences in formal early education and practical lowincome living to create the curriculum. This blend of community experience and proven educational theory remains at practice in the centre today.
The centre has grown over time. As well as the preschool program, the centre now offers home-based programs, including the Parents as Teachers and KidsFirst programs. Through this growth, the centre has remained true to its original vision of working in partnership with parents to support the healthy development of young children.
“The event, which is in its 10th year, was started by a parent of a child that the SCEP program assisted — her husband played in Brian Sklar’s band,” said Forbes. “We started off small and within the first three or four years we were approached by Knight Archer Insurance. They became a sponsor and they brought along the Early Learning Centre to share in the event.
“We have a giant silent auction, over 100 items (including) signed jerseys by athletes like Jon Ryan and Jordan Eberle. The Riders have also signed a football, as well as local experiences like a night out at the Globe with a stay at the DoubleTree.
“Because it is our 10th anniversary, we tried to get as many of the originals, like Brian Sklar and the Tex Pistols, as well as Jack Semple, and a fun band named Frogsback will close the show.”
Forbes said the annual event has raised just under $500,000 since its inception.
“We would like to thank our sponsors. We have had an overwhelming show of support for this event, we have raised just under $500,000 over the last 10 years to help make brighter futures for preschool children in Regina and we couldn’t do that without their support,” Forbes said.