Holiday note from our CEO

Dear friends of Horizons,

My heart is swelling with pride. Over the past year, we educated, advocated on behalf of, and played with 1,600 children each week who are living in homeless shelters across the state. I am so proud to work with a team of highly trained and skilled teachers, social workers, and support staff who work each day to improve the lives of homeless children and families. We ensure that families who are going through unimaginable hardships receive year-round programming to set them on a path to success. I am so pleased to share with you a few highlights from the past year:

• More than 900 volunteers provided 618 hours of play each week to children living in homeless shelters.
• More than 300 children received high-quality education from talented and loving teachers, along with breakfast, hot lunch and snacks, every day from 8:00 am-6:00 pm.
• We partnered with Tufts University to provides professional development for our teachers to strengthen science and engineering learning.
• Literacy, music and yoga programs were rolled out in our classrooms.
• Our staff screened over 227 children in our three early education centers, which has allowed teachers to develop a personalized curriculum and access therapy for each child.
• We successfully transitioned preschoolers into kindergarten classrooms in public, charter and Catholic schools across Boston through our Next Schools Initiative.
• Mayor Marty Walsh, First Lady Lauren Baker, Secretary Marylou Sudders and Chief of Education Rahn Dorsey visited Horizons to discuss the importance of early education for homeless children.

We can’t do it without you! I hope you will consider making your tax-deductible gift before December 31st so we can continue this important work.

With Gratitude,
Kate Barrand
President & CEO

PS – if you’ve recently made a gift, please accept our heartfelt thanks!