Bennington College's Early Childhod Center Doubles Scholarship Funds with Grant

Bennington College’s Early Childhood Center (ECC) recently received a $7,000 Turrell Fund Grant, which will aid in providing scholarships to area children, ages two through five, to attend toddler, preschool, and pre-kindergarten/kindergarten programs at the ECC. The Turrell Fund was created in 1935 and yearly distributes money to organizations that are in direct service to children and youths throughout New Jersey and Vermont for their educational programs, youth activities, and social support services.

For many years, the ECC, along with support from the College, has provided scholarships to area children. These scholarships, in addition to tuition subsidies offered by the state of Vermont, help families better afford the cost of sending their children to the ECC. According to ECC director, Darlene Bombard, this Turrell Fund Grant will nearly double the amount of scholarship money that the Center is able to offer children and their families. “Over ten years ago, the Early Childhood Center staff made the commitment to use their endowment income to serve a more economically diverse population of students,” says Bombard. “We plan to continue to build on this commitment in the coming years, which is only made easier with support from places like the Turrell Fund.”

To inquire about the Bennington College Early Childhood Center’s programs for two-year-olds, three and four-year olds, and pre-kindergarten/kindergarten children, contact director Darlene Bombard at (802) 440-4504.