From left: Andrea Ayers, President Business Unit, Convergys; Dave Dougherty, President & CEO, Convergys; Sallie Westheimer, executive director 4C for Children; and Karen Ryan, Director Compliance, Convergys, at a staff lunch to assemble the art supplies packets for 4C on Sept. 23.

CINCINNATI (Sept. 28, 2009)—Three local organizations responded to 4C for Children’s request for crayons, markers, colorful art paper and paint—all non-toxic and washable, or “kid-friendly”—as part of the 2009 United Way of Greater Cincinnati's “Community Care Days.” Employees at Convergys, Ethicon Endo-Surgery Inc. and

the in-house campaign committee at the United Way of Greater Cincinnati collected enough art supplies to make hundreds of art packets for children in child care settings throughout the 23 counties 4C serves.

4C for Children’s goal is to ensure that early care and education programs have the resources to encourage creativity and enhance the quality of learning for children in their care. Staff from 4C will distribute the art packets forchildren on visits with family child care providers and during coaching sessions at child care centers. 

The art supplies will help children build the skills needed to be successful in school—“such as writing, math, science and creative expression,” says Kathleen Bryan, 4C professional development coach.

According to Bryan, art activities allow young children to practice fine motor skills necessary for later academic challenges such as writing. Experimenting with shapes, lines, space and combinations of colors is also helpful for science and math,” she adds.

Annetta Rutland (left) and Janiece Dalmida of 4C’s Family Child Care Services welcome Ethicon Endo-Surgery representative, Shana Zink (right), as she presents 4C with boxes of donated art supplies as part of this year’s United Way Community Care Days.

Why did participating organizations choose 4C this year? 

 “As part of our United Way campaign planning, we surveyed our Cincinnati-based employees to find out what types of projects they would like to participate in and the highest response was in regards to projects that would benefit children,” the Convergys team reported. “We were thrilled to see that we could help children by creating art kits for 4C for Children.”

 “Many of our associates were immediately attracted to the mission of 4C for Children, and we are proud to be a part of this project,” says Jeremy Jokinen, principal biostatistician for Ethicon Endo-Surgery and their company’s United Way liaison.

From left: Sallie Westheimer, 4C executive director; Lindsey Small, United Way of Greater Cincinnati; and Annetta Rutland, 4C director of Family Child Care Services.

4C for Children, the pioneering leader,advocate and resource for early childhood education and care in this region since 1972, serves 23 counties from offices in Cincinnati, Dayton (Ohio) and Newport (Kentucky). Each year this not-for-profit agency assists over 8,000 families of all income levels in finding and choosing quality child care; enrolls over 20,000 child care providers in its workshops and trainings; works to increase the supply of high-quality early education and care in the region; and advocates for children and families at the local, state and federal levels. For more information visit www.4cforchildren.org.

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