Children First, A Merage Foundation

To help young low income children close the learning gap with the help of skilled retirees in Orange County

Children First was established by Paul and Lilly Merage to extend the early childhood development opportunities for needy children in Orange County. Like national and local child development experts, they strongly believe that good child development experiences, if available to children during their first years of life, help expand their abilities to succeed in life. Paul and Lilly Merage also strongly believe that Orange County's retirees represent underutilized resources. Retirees have the accumulated wisdom, experience, means, skills, and desire to lend a real helping hand to early childhood education providers and, through them, to the needy children of the County.

The Orange County Foundation, Children and Families Commission and Children First (a Merage Foundation) have joined together to sponsor the High Hopes Luncheon benefitting the Invest in Children Fund. Proceeds from the luncheon provide grants to support innovative education and health programs to increase the learning abilities of very young children from low-income families in Orange County, and to sustain the groundbreaking work taking place at El Sol Academy of Arts and Science. El Sol is an outstanding, publically chartered preschool through grade eight school serving improverished children in Santa Ana, CA. Its newly launched Family and Learning Center takes a unique approach to providing coordinated on-site economic, health and social welfare services to El Sol's families. The school, with its impressive academic achievements, is a model for integrated school based programs aimed at creating healthy learning environments for kids and quality-of-life opportunities for parents.

The luncheon is now supporting the development of a critically important new clinic on the El Sol site. The Clinic will provide screening and treatment to hundreds of families who would otherwise not have such care.

A New Stage of Life for Skilled Retirees

Want to make a difference in the life of a child? Retirees, ages 50 and better, are needed at early childhood development centers throughout Orange County to help improve the academic success of low income children.  Possible roles: teacher, teachers aide, pediatrician, nurse practitioners, family doctor, parent workshop leader, management or financial consultant, reader, medical assistant, case manager, counselor, workshops in dance, art and music.