Women's Caring Program Hires Hendrick as CEO

MILFORD, Mich., May 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Shelly Hendrick has been named the first CEO of the Women's Caring Program (WCP), Carol Walters, founder and president of the organization, announced today.  

(Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100512/DE03639)

WCP, a public foundation, has raised more than $2 million for Michigan children since 1995. The group helps working families who are ineligible for state child care assistance, but don't make enough to afford quality, licensed child care and education programs through its signature program, ChildCare Commitment.

"Due to WCP's tremendous growth, hiring a CEO is a critical factor in expanding the ability of the WCP to continue to effectively grow with the needs of Michigan's low-income, working families," said Walters.  "The Board of Directors has renewed its commitment to early care and education and looks forward to the challenge of reaching even more disadvantaged children with quality early learning."

Hendrick is the former president and CEO of the Jackson Community Foundation.  She has held posts as director for the Jackson Nonprofit Support Center, and as a public health consultant with both county and state governments. She holds a masters degree in public health education from Central Michigan University and a bachelors in health administration from Eastern Michigan University.

"Becoming a part of the Women's Caring Program is a natural fit for me because of my commitment to education and attaining the resources needed to fulfill the needs of quality early learning," said Hendrick.   "The Women's Caring Program is truly an investment in Michigan's future."

WCP plans to partner with many statewide early learning organizations.    "The Early Childhood Investment Corporation (ECIC) applauds the good work that has been done by WCP through its ChildCare Commitment program.  We see WCP as integral to quality child care programs in Michigan," said Judy Samelson, CEO of the ECIC.  

Traditionally, WCP has only held one fundraising event each year, the July Twilight Gathering in Milford.   Now, the WCP will encourage the many hundreds of women who enjoyed that annual event to host local Twilight Gatherings in their cities and hometowns,  promoting the WCP mission and raising funds for early childhood care and education.  

In addition, WCP plans to increase fund development with corporations and foundations to create more scholarships and broaden partnerships.   Research has repeatedly shown that quality early learning in both childcare and pre-kindergarten settings has a critical impact on the ability of children to succeed in the future.

The Women's Caring Program's Web site is womenscaringprogram.org.

SOURCE Women's Caring Program