UTAH GOVERNOR LEAVITT'S CHILD CARE ADVOCACY AWARD

On April 29th,  Ginger Woolley, founder of Adventure Time, received the 1st Annual Child Care Advocate Award in 1999.  Recognition by the Utah Office of Child Care and the Utah Association for the Education of Young Children for Child care Advocacy.

HISTORY

Fifteen years ago, Ginger Woolley started Adventure Time in Provo as a single mother with children ages 1, 3, and 5.  Since then, Adventure Time has expanded and improved the facility through several expansions and partnerships.  The center currently consists of 11 full size classrooms, a community drop-in center, and after school programs at 2 local elementary schools.

During Ms. Woolley's service in child care, Adventure Time has been awarded several government contracts, funding new child care projects in Utah.  One of these in a child care program for school-age children, funded through the Utah State Legislature.  This program works in partnership with the Provo School District and uses elementary school facilities during after school hours.  Another is a drop-in care facility for Social Services clients which is operated in partnership with Utah's Division of Workforce Services.  Additionally, her organization is the collaborative partner with Mountainland Head Start, providing wrap-around child care for Head Start eligible children.  These co-operative venture between private and public sectors are prototype enterprises in Utah.

Two recent projects: 
1.) the formation of a non-profit organization named Stepping Stones for Families which has been created to provide needed support to help single parents through the challenges of 'going it' alone.  

2.) the formation of a Training Program for Child Care Owners and Directors on cruises to Mexico and the Caribbean.

Ginger Woolley continues to touch the lives of families at her center and in the community.  She is a leader and an advocate in the field of child care and continues to parent her own three children who are nearly grown up.