The Early Learning Coalition of the Emerald Coast (ELCEC), in partnership with United Fidelity Bank (UFB), will host the Storybook Village event during UFB’s Community Day on Saturday, October 26. The free event, held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at United Fidelity Bank, 135 Perry Avenue in Fort Walton Beach, will celebrate families and the expansion of child care and early learning opportunities across Okaloosa and Walton counties.

The Early Learning Coalition of Northwest Florida “is just an amazing partner,” said United Fidelity Bank’s Community President Edward Burns, “this is a way to give back to the communities in which we serve. By partnering with the Early Learning Coalition, it gives us the opportunity to give back to the children of the community and the young people of the community.”

Activities include live storytelling, face painting, a bounce house, free hot dogs, and live entertainment. Over 4,000 free books will be distributed to attendees.

In addition to celebrating families, the event highlights the ELCEC’s efforts in expanding early learning programs. In 2023, the ELCEC served 4,645 children, distributing $17 million to contracted School Readiness (SR) and Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) providers. To boost enrollment, $1.9 million in grants was awarded to SR providers, creating 105 new spaces for infants and toddlers and 283 new SR slots for families.

ELCEC CEO Dana Hodges emphasized the coalition’s commitment to preparing children for success, stating, “We are proud of the recent progress made in expanding access to quality child care and early learning programs.”

To support the workforce, ELCEC invested $3.1 million in grants and scholarships for early educators, collaborating with Northwest Florida State College (NWFSC) to help teachers obtain advanced credentials. On August 8, 2024, 20 teachers were recognized for earning their Directors Credential and Florida Childcare Professional Credential through the ELCEC/NWFSC cohort.

The event will also raise awareness about the importance of early learning. Recent data from the FAST Kindergarten Readiness Assessment shows that children who attended VPK are significantly more prepared to start kindergarten. In Okaloosa County, 64% of VPK attendees were kindergarten-ready, compared to only 31% of those who did not attend. In Walton County, the gap was similarly wide, with 66% of VPK attendees ready for kindergarten versus 37% who did not participate.

Families looking for child care or financial assistance can explore the School Readiness and VPK programs through the ELCEC’s Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) service. More information is available at elc-ec.org.