MIDDLEBURY — The Vermont Children’s Trust Foundation on June 2 awarded Mary Johnson Children’s Center the Sally Fox Award. The award is given annually to a Vermont nonprofit organization that provides direct services of exceptional merit to children ages birth through 18.
This prestigious award is named for Sally Fox, a Vermont state representative from Essex,attorney and director of the Vermont Disabilities Law Project of Vermont Legal Aid. Fox, who died in 2014, was a long-time advocate for children’s rights, and spearheaded many initiatives on behalf of Vermont children. The Sally Fox award was created to honor her, and Mary Johnson Children’s Center’s receipt of the award this year reflects the excellence of its programs as well as the tireless commitment to serving the needs of children that has guided it for over four decades.
Founded in 1970, Mary Johnson Children’s Center is a leader in early childhood education both in the county and in the state. The center is home to several programs that support children and families. Mary Johnson’s highly regarded early childhood program serves children 18 months to 5 years, and its school-age program serves elementary school children in public schools throughout Addison County.
In addition, Mary Johnson operates other programs that serve children throughout the area, including Mary Johnson Childcare Services; RFD, a summer food program that brings meals to outlying rural locales; Middlebury Nourishes, which serves free lunches to children ages 2 to 18 during the summer; the Bread Loaf Croutons summer childcare program for Middlebury College; and Vermont’s STARS — STep Ahead Recognition System — which assesses and ranks childcare programs throughout the state. A member of NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children), Mary Johnson’s early education programs offer exceptional learning experiences for all children, as well as therapeutic in-class support and Head Start programs to those in need of such services.
The Sally Fox award reflects Mary Johnson Children’s Center’s ongoing commitment to excellence in serving the needs of Vermont children, as well as its outstanding teaching staff.
For more information on Mary Johnson Children’s Center and its programs visit www.mjccvt.org.