Anchorage Mayor Pledges $250,000 Support to Best Beginnings in 2024 Proposed Budget
Best Beginnings, a leading public-private organization dedicated to early childhood development, is proud to announce a significant boost in funding thanks to the 2024 budget proposals released by Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson.
In an afternoon press conference on Monday, Mayor Bronson revealed his vision for the city’s budget in the coming year. Among the highlights, Mayor Bronson allocated $250,000 in support of Best Beginnings, recognizing the critical role the organization plays in fostering healthy early childhood development within the Anchorage community.
“We are extremely grateful for the opportunity to partner in our work to support parents and young children,” said Amie Collins, Executive Director of Best Beginnings. “The research is clear – early literacy programs like ours have a positive and long-lasting effect on school readiness, reading proficiency, and success in life.”
Mayor Bronson reads a book from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
Best Beginnings has been a vital force in promoting the well-being and future success of young Alaskans since its inception in 2011. By providing free resources, programs, and support for the field of early childhood education, the organization has positively impacted countless families throughout the state.
“Mayor Bronson’s commitment to investing in early childhood development is a testament to his dedication to the well-being of Anchorage’s youngest citizens,” said Jennifer Caynor, spokesperson for Best Beginnings. “This funding will enable us to continue our mission of helping every child in Alaska get the best possible start in education.”
The $250,000 allocation will support a range of Best Beginnings initiatives, including early literacy programs, parenting resources, and community outreach efforts. Most notably, the proposed funding will build on efforts undertaken last spring by the Anchorage Assembly to ensure every child is able to access early literacy resources and books through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which currently serves only 3,500 of the nearly 20,000 children citywide who are eligible for the program. The program previously had reduced its coverage in Anchorage, due to a lack of funding, despite strong evidence that participation improves school readiness and has positive, lasting impacts on grade level reading proficiency. The organization is hopeful about the possibility of expanding its reach and impact with additional funding.
L to R: Best Beginnings staff members Jennifer Caynor, Carrie Chisholm, Amie Collins, and Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson
For media inquiries, please contact:
Jennifer Caynor
(907) 297-3311
