Special to The Truth
HOPE Toledo held an evening of reflection and celebration of the agency’s impact and investment on children’s future on Sunday, October 25, at Declare Church.
This second annual HOPE Toledo Sunday brought together families, educators, childcare centers, faith leaders, business representatives, civic organizations and public officials, along with residents to celebrate the achievements in bringing high-quality early childhood education to families and children throughout the area.
Hope Toledo believes every child deserves the BEST start and for that start to be accessible, affordable and available.
John C. Jones is the president of HOPE (Helping Our Population Educate) Toledo. His deep commitment to servicing our community is at the heart of their mission to create and deliver a quality education From Cradle to Career for Toledo’s youth.
The evening featured Stories of HOPE, which highlighted the experiences of families, scholars and educators; the State of Hope, which provided an update on the organization’s progress and future priorities and Seeds of HOPE, which invited the community to join in and invest in the next generation.
This year, HOPE Toledo introduced its Beacon of HOPE Awards recognizing individuals and organizations whose leadership, service, and commitment have illuminated pathways of promise, excellence, generosity and legacy toward greater opportunity for children and families.
Chicks For Charity received the award for generosity. Through their grassroots efforts, they continue to support early care and education while seeding philanthropic growth for generations. Sylvania Children’s Center received the award for excellence. This Gold Medal-rated, NAEYC-accredited childcare center is a model of consistency and educational excellence in the Birth to Five sector.
While the awards for generosity and excellence were announced ahead of time and the recipients were fully prepared to accept and deliver a speech of gratitude, the Beacon of HOPE Award for “lifetime achievement” was the surprise announcement during the event.
The honoree for lifetime achievement was Alethea Easterly, founder and CEO of Quality Time Child Care.
On Monday, April 15, staff, supporters and funders joined CEO Alethea Easterly to cut the ribbon and
Easterly opened Quality Time Day Care in 1999 to serve pre-school children – ages three and a half years and up. Nine years later she opened Quality Time 2 for kids in the early Head Start age range. In 2024 the staff officially welcomed Quality Time 3 into the Quality Time Day Care family of child-care providers. QT3 serves school-aged pre-teens in before and after-school programs in addition to summer session programs.
“Every child in this region must have a strong start. They deserve it, and their families deserve the opportunity to access high-quality early childhood education and care,” said Rev. John C. Jones, President and CEO of HOPE Toledo. “HOPE Toledo Sunday is an opportunity to celebrate how far we have come, acknowledge the work that remains, and remind ourselves that building a stronger future for our children is our collective responsibility.”
Since its founding, HOPE Toledo has worked alongside early childhood education providers, community partners, and public and private supporters to strengthen opportunities for young learners and their families.