ST. CROIX VALLEY —Across the St. Croix Valley, early childhood partners are aligning their efforts in new ways, connecting healthcare providers, employers, schools, and nonprofits to support families during a child’s earliest years.

This month, the St. Croix Valley Foundation awarded nearly $165,000 in First Thousand Days grants to 11 organizations serving Washington and Chisago counties in Minnesota, and Polk, Burnett, St. Croix, and Pierce counties in Wisconsin.

Since launching the First Thousand Days Grant Program in 2024, the Foundation has awarded $481,000 to support what research makes clear: the first thousand days—from pregnancy to age three—shape lifelong health, learning, and well-being.

The program was established through the generosity of Bill and Rita Lawson of Somerset, who created the First Thousand Days Field Fund to spark sustained local investment in early childhood. Additional donors continue to build on that vision. This year’s funding cycle drew 17 applications requesting more than $232,000, reflecting both growing need and deep regional commitment.

“We are grateful to the volunteer panel who carefully reviewed these proposals and helped guide funding decisions,” said Angie Pilgrim, Vice President of Community Impact. “Each year, we see stronger collaboration across the region alongside meaningfully focused local programs reaching families at pivotal moments. These grants reflect thoughtful, research-informed investments in children and caregivers during a critical stage of development.”

Building on last year’s funding, this grant will expand the partnership between HealthPartners Valley Hospitals’ Little Moments Count, Family Resource Center St. Croix Valley, and Family Friendly Workplaces — bringing early childhood science directly into workplaces across western Wisconsin.

The partners are updating employer toolkits with Little Moments Count messaging, distributing evidence-based content through employer communications, and co-hosting Walk, Roll & Read events connecting families to community resources. Through its employer certification program, Family Friendly Workplaces now engages businesses representing more than 25,000 employees, a number expected to grow significantly this year.

“Employers are a powerful node capable of setting the weather (a constant storm of stressors and risks) for families,” said Neil Kline, Executive Director of Family Friendly Workplaces. “The first thousand days of a child’s life are really the kick-off to each child’s long-term workforce development. When employers understand that connection, they begin to see how the schedules, benefits, and policies they set shape the conditions families experience every day.”

Grant recipients include:

Family Friendly Workplaces Inc., general operating, $25,000

Family Resource Center St. Croix Valley, general operating, $25,000

HealthPartners Valley Hospitals, Little Moments Count, $25,000

Reach Out and Read Minnesota, Reach Out and Read in Chisago and Washington Counties, $25,000

Reach Out and Read Wisconsin, Read Out and Read in Western Wisconsin, $25,000

Burnett County Family Resource Center, Inc., general operating, $20,000

Bridge to Books, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, $5,000

Wyoming Area Creative Arts Community Inc., Babies Are Artists, Too!, $5,000

Pierce Couty Public Health Dept., Pierce County Borth to 3, $4,924

Stillwater Area Schools ECFE, Secure Attachments: Confident Parents & Thriving Kids, $2,900

St. Croix Falls Public Library, Rejuvenate Early Literacy Kits, $2,000
The St. Croix Valley Foundation partners with donors, affiliates, and nonprofits to steward and grow endowments that fuel community impact today and for generations to come. To learn more, visit scvfoundation.org.

Submitted by St. Croix Valley Foundation