Last Thursday, the Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce joined other local providers and champions at the Early Childhood Provider Appreciation Awards, presented by the Early Childhood Council of Larimer County (ECCLC). The Chamber is grateful for organizations like ECCLC, which collaborate with the surrounding communities to provide opportunities for children to learn, grow, and succeed. The Chamber is honored to have received the 2024 Early Childhood Community Advocate Award from the Early Childhood Council of Larimer County. We also would like to congratulate the following winners who made this event so memorable.
Family Friendly Employer Award – Creating a family-friendly environment for their staff
Fort Collins Habitat For Humanity
Recognized as a Family-first organization that offers the ability to work from home in many positions and other benefits. Fort Collins Habitat For Humanity has a Parental Leave Policy – 12 weeks of parental leave for the birth, adoption, or placement of a child or to care for a child within the first 12 months – including up to 6 weeks of Habitat paid leave for eligible employees. They allow employees time with new babies and have a sabbatical model to celebrate parents and their kids. As well as workplace policies allow kids to be onsite with parents (except on an active construction site, of course)
Waypoint Realty
Waypoint Real Estate started as a handful of younger community leaders who have a mission of creating meaningful impact on their community, clients, and colleagues. Waypoint has proudly donated time, talent, and treasure of over $250,000 to local nonprofits since opening their doors. Now, these younger leaders have families; their community giving has a completely family-focused approach. Their last fundraising event included staff and their families, with children of all ages included in the fun, and truly celebrated their commitment to a family-friendly workplace. Further, Waypoint has adopted an individually managed vacation time policy. Each team member is entrusted to maintain work-life integration for them and their families. Waypoint values the employee’s time with their family above all else while balancing a collective commitment to excellence in the workplace. Team Members agree that five days of PTO will be taken consecutively each year to ensure life balance.
Early Childhood Educators of the Year:
- Holly Huckfeldt
- Rachel Silva
- Taylor Bass
Early Childhood System Builder of the Year
- Thad Paul
Early Childhood Innovator Award
- Loveland YMCA
Early Childhood Collaboration Award
- Town of Estes Park
Early Childhood Workforce Development Award
- BIOPIC Alliance
Whole Child Award
- The Family Center/ La Familia
Early Childhood Provider Appreciation Award
- Debbie Whitehead
- Alvarium Learning Center
- Irene Gilman
- Thompson Valley Preschool
- Teaching Tree Loveland
Miriam B. Harris Lifetime Achievement Award
- Anne Lance
To donate or learn more about how you can get involved with Early Childhood Council of Larimer County (ECCLC) visit – ECCLC | Working Together So Children Thrive