Rialto preschool children gathered with Potter the Otter in the Board of Supervisors Covington Chambers on Wednesday to sing Happy Birthday and celebrate the 15th anniversary of First 5 San Bernardino.
November 3 marked the 15th anniversary of voter-approved Proposition 10 which funds First 5 San Bernardino, an early childhood development initiative, through cigarette and tobacco-product taxes.
Pioneers behind Proposition 10’s legislation, founding commissioners and champions of the agency including Kent Paxton of the Children’s Network, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center’s Director of Women’s Health, Dr. Guillermo Valenzuela and Fifth District County Supervisor Josie Gonzales, and former County Administrative Officer John Michaelson presented comments on the early phases of First 5 San Bernardino.
“The millions of dollars that have been invested have influenced the nonprofit sector, our community infrastructure, and the delivery of developmental services for children. This has resulted in children experiencing positive outcomes for health and safety needs, and also enhances the quality of learning. Children have been positioned to fare better in education and in life, through our investments,” said Karen Scott, executive director of First 5.
“We are proud of the thousands of families and children we have touched over the 15 years, but we have much more to offer to improve our children’s experience during their first 5 years of life in San Bernardino County as our agency matures.”