Innovative Network of Knowledge

“Per the irs instructions, certain business relationships between the organization's current officers, directors, trustees, or key employees, as reported in part vii, section a, must be disclosed. Because of the interrelated nature of the filing organization with its related entities (as disclosed on schedule r), all of the officers and directors with overlapping responsibilities have business relationships with each other.”

“Other officer compensation is reviewed on an annual basis utilizing national and regional salary survey data for equivalent positions with similar nonprofit organizations. The market analysis is examined by the chief operating officer of the parent organization and any compensation modification is recommended and discussed with the chairman of the board of directors. With the concurrence of the board chairman, the compensation is included in the annual operating budget which is contemplated and acted on by the entire board of directors. Approved compensation adjustments are recorded in the personnel record of the executive director along with the rationale for any compensation modification.”

“The board of directors shall designate an executive committee, which shall consist of the following: the chairman, vice chairman, secretary, and treasurer and up to three persons appointed by the chairman. Subject to the bylaws and the general policies prescribed by the board of directors, the executive committee shall have and shall execute the authority of the management of the corporation. A majority of the members of the executive committee shall constitute a quorum.”

“The board of trustees of firstday foundation, as the parent company of the organization, has the power to elect members of the organization's governing body.”

“The managed services provider generates and reviews the 990 by comparing prior return with current return. In addition, all financial data on the 990 is reconciled to the financial statements. After review is made with the president the return is filed.”

“All members of the governing board and officers are covered with the conflict of interest and compliance policy and requirements. All members of the governing board and officers must complete a conflict-of-interest disclosure on an annual basis. If a conflict of interest should arise, the person associated with the conflict is excluded from discussion, debate and decision making on the matter. This shall include the person with the conflict being excluded from a meeting where any matter associated with the conflict is discussed.”

“The executive director's compensation is reviewed on an annual basis utilizing national and regional salary survey data for equivalent positions with similar nonprofit organizations. The market analysis is examined by the chief operating officer of the parent organization and any compensation modification is recommended and discussed with the chairman of the board of directors. With the concurrence of the board chairman, the compensation is included in the annual operating budget which is contemplated and acted on by the entire board of directors. Approved compensation adjustments are recorded in the personnel record of the executive director along with the rationale for any compensation modification.”

“The form 990, governing documents, conflict of interest policy, and financial statements are made available to the public upon request by contacting the firstday foundation corporate office.”

“George cowden, vice-chair/secretary, receives compensation from a related organization for legal services provided to the organization. No part of his compensation was provided for his service as a board member.”

“The JVLCDG grant provided educational services to 389 children during the 2023-2024 school year. The locations included Victoria ISD, Waelder ISC, Yoakum ISD, Nixon-Smiley CISD, Victoria EHS, Yoakum EHS, Cuero HS, Edna HS, and Port Lavaca HS. Partnerships with local libraries were made. The Education Outreach team at the library has guest readers at multiple centers initiated by a partnership created by the Family Specialist Team. The libraries donated books and hands on development resources to our center locations and continue to invite Family Specialists to community partnership events for recruiting and family engagement. Parents were involved with committees and the Policy Council. Parades and Fairs in this area are exciting, and families participate by creating floats, recruiting tables and dressing up. Every location participated in National Night Out and provided learning activities for families. A non-profit organization, Esperanza of Tejas, reached out to partner, providing community resources, hygiene products, pull-ups and wipes to all our families. Toys for Tots is a big event sponsored in Victoria where many of our family specialists helped families sign-up. Local Oilfield and Industrial Companies adopt Families from our centers and provide clothing, jackets, socks, and toys. The education team continued Family engagement by maintaining access to Ready Rosie for parents. Having partnerships with the ISD's by participating in Campus Improvement Plans and School Readiness Goals development meetings helps prepare our children to be school ready.”

“During the 2023-2024 academic school year, the AKW grant continued to serve children. Our Early Head Start program enrolled 80 children in our 3 standalone sites and our Head Start program continued serving 134 children through our partnerships with Floresville and Charlotte ISDs. We wanted to make sure our families continued to feel involved in their child's education by providing monthly parent meetings followed by family engagement activities. During the family engagement activities, families are invited to come to the center and join their child for a creative activity. During this time, families can see what the children have been learning about in the classroom as well. Parents also continued to volunteer and attend policy council meetings via zoom. We added a reading program to get our families involved in reading with their children at home. We provide a book weekly with all the materials needed to show how one book can be extended to a weeks worth of learning. The parents have expressed how this has helped them ensure that books are part of their child's daily lives. Teachers continued to send home educational activities daily. This gives parents the opportunity to spend some time with their child at home extending on what they are learning at school. This school year we had 253 parent volunteers. We continue to implement the parent curriculum called Ready Rosie. Ready Rosie delivers parenting curriculum videos via text. The city of Poteet continued to provide volunteers services each month by mowing the yard, paying for water and trash services. The city of Poteet provided the land to the side of the center to have AKWs main office building, small training building and storage shed. The city of Poteet has provided AKW with opportunities to recruit children by inviting us to all their yearly functions. Our stand-alone sites continue working with the local community partnerships to provide resources and referrals to our families on an as-needed basis.”

“During the 2023-2024 academic year the Stonewall grant served and enrolled 138 Head Start children within two ISDs and 44 Early Head Start children within the Johnson City EHS Center and home based services. We provide home based services weekly to families and provide bi-weekly socializations for families to come together to participate in activities and listen to local community vendors speak to them about needs families have expressed. Johnson City Early Head Start opened its doors on august 21st serving 8 children after being closed for over a year for renovation and conversion from Head Start to Early Head Start. Enrollment at JCEHS has continued to grow due to community outreach and parent involvement. Our program has provided Head Start children with backpacks and school supplies during a Meet The Teacher event at our ISDs. Head Start has participated in literacy nights, math nights, and storybook rotations. Through conscious discipline, we have provided Bailey Bears on November 3rd, to all Head Start children. Bailey Bears are used by the children and their families to help children self-regulate and are part of trauma informed care. Due to the center director's outreach to local vendors, Early Head Start participated in the Angel Tree project that is set up in the local bank in Johnson City where residents chose a family to ensure the family had a happy holiday season. Along with the gifts, JCEHS had the Grinch come and visit with the families, took pictures, and gave out candy canes. The Head Start and Early Head Start provide parent meetings that are held each month to ensure we keep the families informed of any upcoming events and volunteer opportunities. We continue our family engagement by providing weekly take home projects and encourage father engagement with their child through sponsored events such as pumpkins for papas where dads come and carve jack o lanterns with their child during the month of October. Pumpkins are donated from a local community grower. There have also been donations of infant wear, appliances, food vouchers, and a donation of rent and utilities to one family. Parents continued to volunteer and attend policy council meetings through Microsoft Teams and completed educational activities from their home with their children as part of our family engagement initiative. Parents volunteered reading to their children as we provided books for them to read in English and Spanish. We had 271 Head Start parent volunteers and 90 EHS volunteers this school year. We also had a dentist from the community see children who did not have a dental screening.”

“The CCP grant provided educational services to 160 children during the 2023-2024 school year. The locations included were Victoria, Boerne, Edna, Cuero, Port Lavaca, and Yoakum under this grant. Parent workshops were held for milestones, home visits, and family goals. EHS, Cuero HS, Edna HS, and Port Lavaca HS. Partnerships with local libraries were made. The Education Outreach team at the library has guest readers at multiple centers initiated by a partnership created by the Family Specialist Team. The libraries donated books and hands on development resources to our center locations and continue to invite Family Specialists to Toddler Time for recruiting and family engagement. Parents were involved with committees and the Policy Council. Parades and Fairs in this area are exciting, and families participate by creating floats, recruiting tables and dressing up. Every location participated in National Night Out and provided learning activities for families. A non-profit organization, Esperanza of Tejas, reached out to partners providing community resources, hygiene products, diapers and wipes to all our families. Toys for Tots is a big event sponsored in Victoria where many of our family specialists helped families sign-up. Local Oilfield and Industrial Companies adopt Families from our centers and provide clothing, jackets, socks, and toys. The education team continued Family engagement by maintaining access to Ready Rosie for parents. Having partnerships with the Health Department and participating in the Family First Committee with the Victoria Parents as Teachers program, has secured seats on several committees and organizations to ensure continued community support.”

“(Expenses $ 5,551,504 including grants of $ 1,432)(Revenue $ 8,703) The CCP grant provided educational services to 160 children during the 2023-2024 school year. The locations included were Victoria, Boerne, Edna, Cuero, Port Lavaca, and Yoakum under this grant. Parent workshops were held for milestones, home visits, and family goals. EHS, Cuero HS, Edna HS, and Port Lavaca HS. Partnerships with local libraries were made. The Education Outreach team at the library has guest readers at multiple centers initiated by a partnership created by the Family Specialist Team. The libraries donated books and hands on development resources to our center locations and continue to invite Family Specialists to Toddler Time for recruiting and family engagement. Parents were involved with committees and the Policy Council. Parades and Fairs in this area are exciting, and families participate by creating floats, recruiting tables and dressing up. Every location participated in National Night Out and provided learning activities for families. A non-profit organization, Esperanza of Tejas, reached out to partners providing community resources, hygiene products, diapers and wipes to all our families. Toys for Tots is a big event sponsored in Victoria where many of our family specialists helped families sign-up. Local Oilfield and Industrial Companies adopt Families from our centers and provide clothing, jackets, socks, and toys. The education team continued Family engagement by maintaining access to Ready Rosie for parents. Having partnerships with the Health Department and participating in the Family First Committee with the Victoria Parents as Teachers program, has secured seats on several committees and organizations to ensure continued community support.”