Putting for a Purpose supports Foundry preschool
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WNKY) — The Foundry is using its “Putting for a Purpose” event to raise money for its preschool program while introducing more people to the Christian community center’s work with children and families in Bowling Green’s West End.
The Foundry provides preschool, after-school and summer camp programs, along with community health and fitness classes. Its mission focuses on developing young leaders through education, physical wellness and spiritual development.
Fundraiser focuses on preschool needs
Jennifer Lewis, a former Foundry employee and current board member, said the fundraiser is intended to increase awareness of the organization and help people better understand the programs it provides.
Lewis said money raised through Putting for a Purpose will help support preschool teachers, supplies and other daily expenses. It will also help children attend classes and gain access to opportunities they may not otherwise have.
“We’re hoping to raise the money to use for our preschoolers because, as you know, preschool is very important,” Lewis said. “Not all children have access to preschool. And you have parents that work 9 to 5 jobs that their kids need to go to preschool.”
Removing barriers for families
Tonya Naftel, The Foundry’s education director, said one of the organization’s biggest challenges is helping children and parents overcome language barriers.
“I think right now, the biggest challenge that we have is just the language barrier,” she said. “Many of our kids come in, they can’t speak English. Parents, some of them can speak a little broken English. They have older siblings that do a lot of translation for them.”
Moving to a new country and adapting to a different culture and language can make it harder for parents to navigate their children’s education, she said. The Foundry works with both children and parents, including through family involvement opportunities.
“The Foundry does a really good job of just, you know, trying to take that barrier away so that kids can get a good education,” Tonya said. “And then the parents, too, like, they’re learning and they get to do our parent involvement and everything. So it’s helping the family as a whole.”
She said the center also gives children opportunities to demonstrate their abilities through activities such as music, summer camp and experiences throughout the community.
“A lot of our kids at the Foundry, they don’t have opportunities to show that they are talented, and they are talented,” Tonya said.
Investing in future generations
Board member Eleanor Allen said she hopes the event helps visitors learn more about The Foundry, including those who may have come only to play putt-putt.
“I’ve come in contact with several people, and they have no idea what the Foundry is,” Allen said. “And hopefully today, through the shack and raising money, they will understand and get an idea of what the Foundry is.”
Allen said donations are necessary to maintain the center’s programs and provide more opportunities for its preschool students.
“It takes money to run programs,” Allen said. “And we are hoping today that we raise enough funds to really help our preschool children. You know, our preschool children, they are the people of the future. And we need to make sure they have every opportunity possible in order to be successful.”
