College of Human Ecology receives $1 Million

COLUMBUS -- The P&G Fund, the foundation of Cincinnati-based Procter & Gamble, announced today (10/22) a gift of $1 million to support the building of the College of Human Ecology’s new early childhood development center in Columbus’ Weinland Park neighborhood. The center - the first university-based early childhood laboratory/school built in a low-income neighborhood - will offer interdisciplinary research, teaching and services targeted to the issues facing this constituency. Groundbreaking for the Center will take place in 2005, with the opening planned for autumn 2006.

“The College of Human Ecology has a unique vision for improving the lives of underserved children,” said Charlotte Otto, president and trustee of the P&G Fund. “We at P&G share this vision. The college’s early childhood development center fits with our corporate initiative of focusing on improving the lives of children ages 13 and under.”

Dean David W. Andrews conceived the idea of building a new early childhood development center and targeted the Weinland Park community because of the college’s extensive involvement with the area as well as recognition of the poverty, unemployment and low educational attainment of its residents. Situated to the east of Ohio State’s main campus, Weinland Park is a neighborhood of documented need. According to the 2002 U.S. Census:

· Income levels average $15,252 for homeowners and renters, and only $4,000 for those residing in government housing.

· Only 30 percent of area residents over the age of 25 have high school degrees or the equivalent.

· More than half of the total 1,044 neighborhood families are female-headed with children under age 18.

“We thank the P&G Fund for joining our first major donor, Betty Schoenbaum, as a partner in this effort. The P&G Fund has become a vital part of our approach to solving the challenges facing families like those living in Weinland Park,” said Andrews, who expects a portion of the enrolled children to receive subsidized scholarships.

“The P&G/university model partnership will help us move forward in our work, which includes collaboration with Columbus Public Schools and the Weinland Park community,” he said. “Many will benefit from a nationally recognized center where scholars and students can conduct cutting-edge research. We expect our discoveries to improve the lives of young children and their families worldwide.”

Columbus architectural firms HKI and Moody Nolan will be designing the unique and multi-functional building. Architect Jean Gordon, nationally recognized for the design of early childhood education spaces, will lead the design. The center will include such unique features as:

· A nature courtyard where young children can enjoy the outdoors in a secure, enclosed area.

· A viewing balcony with New Orleans-style ironwork for college students and researchers to observe the children and their caregivers.

· Classrooms for college students with college faculty offices next to classrooms for young children.

· A rooftop playground where children can play outdoors in a secure environment.

When completed, the A. Sophie Rogers Laboratory School will be relocated from Campbell Hall to the new facility to serve area families, Ohio State employees and the traditional community population. Scholars consider this student population of mixed socioeconomic and racial background an ideal environment for instructional and research programs in child development and education.

The center will offer quality care to a substantially larger number of children, which also will provide the university’s human ecology students with broader learning opportunities. The facility will also assist with recruiting nationally renowned early childhood development scholars and researchers.