Sara Watson Visits South Carolina to Talk About Early Childhood Development
August 20, 2012
GREENVILLE, SC – August 20, 2012 – Dr. Sara Watson, director of ReadyNation, was the keynote speaker at the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce’s Quarterly Meeting of Membership. Watson was invited to speak at the meeting by the Greenville-based Institute for Child Success, Trident United Way, and the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce.
Her visit to South Carolina was part of her ongoing support for Kids Drive Our Future, a state-wide campaign and partnership of business leaders focused on smart early childhood investment. Watson is the executive vice president of America’s Promise Alliance and the director and cofounder of ReadyNation, a national collaboration of business leaders, economists, and philanthropists that empowers business leaders to advocate for proven investments in young children.
The mission of ReadyNation is to amplify the voice of business leaders in support of early childhood policies and programs that strengthen the economy and workforce. More than 150 business leaders and economists attended the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce’s Quarterly Meeting of Membership and listened to Watson talk about the benefits of investing in early childhood development programs.
“A number of rigorous studies have been able to measure the impact of early childhood programs on concrete outcomes that anybody can understand,” said Watson. “ReadyNation has had great success in mobilizing business leaders to become advocates for early childhood development programs because of the return on investment (ROI).”
Kids Drive our Future serves as a tool and resource for advocates to engage SC business leaders to serve as champions in the community and state to initiate critical change in child development. The campaign is a singular call to action, involving corporate leaders to help others in the community recognize the importance of early childhood.
Robert Dugger, chairman of ReadyNation Advisory Board and managing partner of Hanover Investment Group, will be the keynote speaker at the Greenville Business Leaders’ Forum on Early Childhood Investment on October 11th. This is an event for local business leaders in the Greenville area to discuss how they can ensure a more prosperous future by investing in early childhood development.
If you would like more information on attending this forum, or if you would like to recommend a business leader in the Greenville area to be invited, please email Jessica Longshore at [email protected].
Pictured: left to right:
- Sara Watson, Director of ReadyNation
- Herb Johnson, Director of Community Relations, Michelin NA
- Dottie Cybrynski, Joint Base Charleston
- Christine Ray, Global Corporate Citizenship, Boeing South Carolina
About the Institute for Child Success
The Institute for Child Success (i(cs)) was founded by the United Way of Greenville County and the Children’s Hospital of the Greenville Hospital System University Medical Center in the fall of 2010 To foster and sustain a system that ensures the success of all children.
About Kids Drive Our Future
Kids Drive Our Future is an initiative undertaken by i(cs) and focused on reframing our conversations in South Carolina about early childhood investment. This statewide effort intends to unite business leaders, elected officials, parents, educators, caregivers, and early childhood advocates in their efforts to help our children and create a better future for them in their home state.
