Since 1912 • Published for the friends and staff of Long Beach Day Nursery • Fall/Winter 2008Since 1912 • Published for the friends and staff of Long Beach Day Nursery • Fall/Winter 2008

Long Beach Day NurseryLong Beach Day NurseryNewsNews

ong Beach Day Nursery celebrated the installation of its 2008-2009 board of

directors and welcomed four new board members June 11. For the second year in a row, the event was open to donors and guests and was held on the grounds of LBDN’s East Branch. Hot and cold hors d’oeuvres, cheese and fruit platters and wine were all donated by members of the board.

New board members include Michael James Brown, president of Plan B Solutions; Salvador Farfan, president of Caught in the Moment Photography in Naples; Judy Hess, supervisor of public health nursing with the Long Beach Department of Health & Human Services; and

Michael Soutar, president of Architects McDonald, Soutar & Paz.

A highlight of the event was recognition of Building Blocks for the Future members. Building Blocks for

the Future 2007-2012 co-chair Mary Soth pre-sented those in attendance with a miniature reproduction of

the donor wall tile figures.

“We were so excited to unveil our new donor wall which recognizes people who have named LBDN in

their wills or made a planned gift of any kind to the Nursery,” said new board chair Elaine Thompson.

Mary Soth spoke of Hazel Liff who left a surprise bequest of more than $400,000 in 1999. Her gift enabled the Nursery to complete the renovation and expan-sion of the East Branch. Mary stressed the importance of leaving a legacy to Long Beach Day Nursery so it can continue providing high quality care and early childhood education to the

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www.lbdn.org

Chair & ED’s Message .................2Graduation Day ...........................3Donor Recognition ....................4Building Blocks ............................5Picnic .............................................6Board of Directors .....................8

Inside This IssueInside This Issue

From L to R, Salvador Farfan, Michael Soutar, Judy Hess and Elaine Thompson (inset Michael Brown).

Building Blocks members present were from l to r, Patrice Wong, David & Melanie Werts, Gregory Haeseler, Carrie Brookshire and Robert & Mary Soth.

LBDN Unveils a New Donor Wall at Annual MeetingLBDN Unveils a New Donor Wall at Annual Meeting

Fall 2008

Continued on page 7

Message from the Chair

Message from the Executive Director

Long Beach Day Nursery News

Message from the Executive Director

Message from the Chair

ear Friends of Long Beach Day Nursery, As I write this, the state

of California has only just recently completed its bud-get for the 2008-2009 fiscal year – 85 days late and only 276 days before the budget for next year is due. Over the past months, the attention

has been focused primarily on the political finger-pointing and unfortunately, only secondarily on the human impact this budget impasse has had.

The stalemate had very profound impact on Long Beach Day Nursery. We have a contract with the state to provide early care and education to families whose household incomes fall below 75% of the state’s median income. For a family of four with two income earners, that means roughly $12 per hour, or $50,000 per year. In Long Beach, that’s just a bit higher than our city-wide median household income. Currently, 64% of the children we serve – 140 children on any given day – receive assistance from the state…and this means that 140 children were in limbo regarding finan-cial support for their early care and education…At

least that many parents would have had their jobs in jeopardy if their children weren’t going to be able to attend the Day Nursery…And taking the ripple effect further, that could have meant jobs lost at the Nursery as well if classrooms had to be shuttered.

It doesn’t take much imagination to extrapolate what could have happened at Long Beach Day Nursery, to the city, county and state levels and what the expanded ripple effects would be. And in fact, organizations like ours and others who provide essential human services were indeed stretched to the maximum, taking out short-term loans, drawing down on lines of credit, furloughing employees, cutting back services, mortgaging properties and otherwise scram-bling to maintain their equilibrium during the 85-day impasse. Notices had gone out to many families across the state that their services were going to be terminated.

Long Beach Day Nursery made a commitment early on in the state budget process to maintain services to all children and families. We are fortunate to be in a strong financial position, thanks in no small part to the support of our donors and funders, the skills of our management team, and the oversight of our board of directors. Although it was no picnic, we were able

Dear Friends of Long Beach Day Nursery: Greetings and warm wishes to all the friends and

supporters of Long Beach Day Nursery. Another school year has begun and the board is hard at work. I am so honored to be part of such a tremendous organization, and to succeed Gregory Haeseler and the other distin-guished past board chairs.

LBDN is facing exciting times. The organization is approaching its 100th anniversary in 2012. Throughout the past almost 100 years, LBDN has provided cutting-edge programs and services. It has stayed true to its mission – to provide quality early care and education to young children of working parents. That mission is just as relevant today as it was nearly a century ago.

As a society, we live in challenging economic times. It is critical that the Nursery continues to provide the same

high quality services to our young families that it has since the beginning. Your help and support allows us to do that. The board and I truly appreciate the support that the Nursery receives from the community, and the hard work and dedication of the staff.

During my tenure as chair, the board and I will do our best to assist Long Beach Day Nursery continue its

mission. We are dedicated to maintaining the excellence that Long Beach Day Nursery has always demonstrated.

We truly thank all of our supporters.

Elaine Thompson Chair of the Board 2008-2009

Continued on page 7

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Patrice Wong

ong Beach Day Nursery graduated 64 students in June (31 at East Branch and 33 at West Branch). Graduation Day is always very special at the Nursery as the children don their caps and gowns and participate in a very formal ceremony.

Families get together and enjoy lunch after the ceremony.

PreK Kids Day Out

Ron Piazza, local McDonald’s business owner and member of the RMHCSC board of directors visited East Branch recently to celebrate RMHCSC’s support of LBDN’s Early Literacy program. Jon Gotz, LBDN board member, and Ron spent some time with the kids after the check presentation. Everyone at Long Beach Day Nursery would like to thank the Ronald McDonald House Charities for its support.

LGraduation Day Special at East and West BranchesGraduation Day Special at East and West Branches

Briana Corona, West teacher Crystal Brown holding Kaiser Soto and Sharez Smith (front).

LBDN preschoolers Melissa Delgadillo and George Bratton with Ron Piazza, Jon Gotz and Patrice Wong.

Fall 2008

PreK Kids Day OutOur East Branch and West

Branch prekindergartners got together for a field trip to Atlantis Park. They enjoyed lunch and then spent the day exploring nature; sliding down the dragon, whale and shark slides; climbing on a boat in dry dock and every kid’s favorite – swinging on swings.

Ronald McDonald House Charities Supports Early LiteracyRonald McDonald House Charities Supports Early Literacy

Alexandra Jensen, Alma Perez, Cheyenne Tiek and Valeria Ponce waiting for festivities to begin.

Myles Ware going to get his diploma.

Roberto Sandoval and Anthony Ramirez.

Alexia and Aurora Soto.

Long Beach Day Nursery News

Long Beach Day Nursery - Gallery of DonorsLong Beach Day Nursery - Gallery of DonorsThank You to All of Our Wonderful Supporters! Reflects gifts received July 1, 2008 to September 30, 2008.

IN HONOR OFKent MacPherson Darlene and Robert MacPhersonMary Soth Lynn and Tom Hermstad Susan and Mel MarksJulia Taboada and Gail Schwandner Ronald NelsonDonita Van Horik and John Fielder Ellen Calomiris Kathleen and Larry Choate Liz and John Hancock George and Bernie Jones Art Levine Tamara and Ben McVicker Carol and Robert Senske Diane and Robert Trunek Patricia WeberSara Wong Caroline and Brian WongIN MEMORY OFVirginia Artman Merideth WibergVirginia Artman and Armando Morales Ann Artman MoralesGreg Bruse Sandy and Don GillWilla Case Sandra and Roger CaseHomer Comparette Leamel ComparetteJackie Dodge Virginia and Loyd WilcoxJonathon Grisham Ruth WrightJeanne Kerwin Judie and James FouquetteMrs. William J. Schneider, Jr. Elizabeth and Harry MinorFRIENDS OF LBDN$25,000+ Dwight Stuart Youth Foundation Earl B. and Lorraine H. Miller Foundation$10,000+ Altha Fry Trust California Consumer Protection Foundation Josephine S. Gumbiner

$10,000+ (cont.)Kenneth T. and Eileen L. Norris Foundation $5,000+ Leamel Comparette Edison International Freeman E. Fairfield Foundation$1,000+F & M Bank Liz and John Hancock Lorraine Hutton Merrill Lynch & Co. Foundation Union Bank of California$500+ Robert Craig Judith and Allen Mellow Susan and James Richards Arlene Solomon Donita Van Horik and John Fielder Virginia and Loyd Wilcox$100+ Carl Allen Sheri and Seldon Beebe Carolyn and Patrick Bixby Carrie and Bruce Brookshire Michael J. Brown Shannon and Gregory Burnight Ellen Calomiris Kathleen and Larry Choate Gayle Clock Fran and Steve Conley Norma and John Craig Kathy and Don De Silva Judie and James Fouquette Eline and Jack Fudge Patricia and John Funke Bonnie Bateman Ganz and Gerald Ganz Cindy and Jonathan Gotz Maycie Herrington and Kay Marie Anthony Judith A. Hess Carlene Jaques Jannell and Todd Jones Lucy and Duane Kuster Nancy and Robert Latimer LBS Financial Credit Union Art Levine Darlene and Robert MacPherson Susan and Mel Marks

Deloris and Sandor Mayuga Tamara and Ben McVicker Lorie and Paul Merrill Elaine and Dennis Moore Daphne D. Munzer Ronald Nelson Suzanne and David Nosworthy Lisa and Nathan Olsen Mayor Beverly and William O'Neil Virginia Oleen Gail Schwandner Carol and Robert Senske Gloria and Martin Simon Marci and Don Smith Eva and Michael Soutar Pam Spoo Gloria and Harry Surlow Elaine Thompson and Charles Saulenes Diane and Robert Trunek Valero Wilmington Refinery Melanie and David Werts Marion Wilson Elaine and William Winston Dorothy and Fred Wise Caroline and Brian WongUp to $99 Alice and Arnold Anderson Anne Blayden Carol and Lawrence Burnight Sandra and Roger Case Nancy and Robert Conway Jennifer Cozens-Boswell Phillip Daigneault Nanci and Lynn Gee Sandy and Don Gill Kyung Lee and Richard Green Allene Harding Lynn and Tom Hermstad Pat and The Honorable Edward Hinz JoElle A. Jenkins Georgia and Bernie Jones Adra and Charles Kober Linda and Richard Landes Patricia and Ralph Larison Herbert A. Levi Tommye and Len Lovett Lisa Mc Dowell Elizabeth and Harry Minor Ann Artman Morales Terry Mull

Coreen and James Neary Patti and Harold Omel Joan Rehnborg Lori Rocha Leon Shoag Ethelea Siemons Phyllis and Warren Spielmann Sylvia and Alfred Strum Estela Tejidor Patricia Weber Merideth Wiberg Ruth WrightIN KIND Aquarium of the Pacific Breathe, Therapeutic Massage & Skin Care Bubba Gumps California Pizza Kitchen Chick-Fil-A Coast Long Beach Hotel Edison International El Dorado Woman's Club F & M Bank Gateway Business Bank Golden Spoon Yogurt Hof's Hut HornBlower Johnny Rebs King's Fish House Mai Tai Lounge McDonalds-Lakewood Anaheim Ducks Navy Golf Course Orange County Transit Authority Outback Steakhouse Parker's Lighthouse Polly's Coffee The Reef Restaurant Renaissance Portraits Rowley's Portraits Ruby's Elizabeth Swift Julie Taboada Todd Cancer Center Trader Joe's Union Bank of California Vicki and Friends Wachovia Securities Patrice WongCorrection: Donors listed in the spring/summer issue were from September 1, 2007 to June 30, 2008.

Fall 2008

LBuilding Blocks: Leaving A Legacy to LBDN

H.G. "Hap" AppletonBetty BixbyBarbara Bixby BlackwellOpal BooneJane Buel BradleyCarrie BrookshireFrank G. ButlerClarisse and Martin ClancyLeamel and Homer ComparetteJames G. Craig Sr.The Doolittle EstateMildred DraperRuth FairfieldAlta M. FrySandra and Don GillJudy Gumbiner

Gregory HaeselerWesley L. HarrisonEleanor N. HatchMrs. C.F.A. JohnsonRonella Marshall JonesEvelyn KeeleyAgnes KuffelL. Christine LangemoMargaret LeakeHazel LiffMary Ruth LongDella and George MarxEsther McCaughanLouise McClaughreyAnn Artman MoralesBarbara and Michael Newton

Nelle RichardsEdna D. SellersJean Bixby SmithMary and Robert SothMorse SorowitzMarian StockingBarbara and Randy StricklenDonita Van Horik and John Fielder Melanie and David WertsJuanita B. WisslerPatrice WongDaris Zinsmeyer

Your gift will live on, improving children’s lives for years to come. For questions regarding making a planned gift, please contact LBDN Executive Director Patrice Wong at 562.591.0509, or Director of Development Eileen Factor.

Building Blocks: Leaving A Legacy to LBDNong Beach Day Nursery has received bequests from faithful supporters throughout its long history with each gift contributing to the Nursery’s ongoing viability. Join us in welcoming our newest member, long-time friend and supporter of LBDN, Margaret Leake. Thank you Margaret.

Help us reach our goal of 100 planned gifts by our 100th anniversary. We are already close to one-half of the way there!

The following are Building Blocks for LBDN’s Future:

I want the Nursery to last another 100 years!– Carrie Andrews Brookshire, Building Blocks to the Future member

When Carrie Andrews Brookshire was elected to the board of directors of LBDN in 1989, little did she know that her commitment to the Nursery would be going strong all these years later. By becoming a member of Building Blocks for the Future, she has deepened her amazing commitment by naming LBDN in her estate plans.

A native of Long Beach, Carrie has a long history of involvement with nonprofits in the community. In addition to serving nine years on the board of the Nursery, Carrie was also affiliated with the Public Corporation for the Arts, Assistance League of Long Beach, and Delta Zeta, her sorority. She served as the president of the Women’s Guild of the Long Beach Civic Light Opera, and was vice

Before former executive director of Long Beach Day Nursery Nelle Richards passed away in December of 2006, she generously remembered LBDN in her will. The $50,000 bequest has been placed in an endowment at the Long Beach Community Foundation, named in her honor. Nelle Richards was executive director from 1948 to 1963. She was named director emeritus in 2002. Her daughter, Nancy Smith, is an LBDN honorary board member, having served on our board for nine years. She was board president in 1983-84.

If you would like to contribute to the Nelle Richards Endowment, please indicate so on the response envelope included in this newsletter.

Endowment Named in Honor of Nelle RichardsEndowment Named in Honor of Nelle Richards

Carrie Andrews Brookshire

Continued on page 7

Rotarian Celebrates Birthday at the West Branch

eartwell Park was the site of the Long Beach Day Nursery annual

family picnic. Members of the Long Beach Police Officers Association provid-ed hot dogs for everyone and Jeebow the Clown was a big hit for one and all.

The picnic was well attend-ed by both East Branch and West Branch staff, friends and families.

“It was a great event, the weather was perfect and everyone seemed to have a great time,” said Executive Director Patrice Wong. “We all look forward to it every year.”

Rotarian Ann Fry resurrected a long-ago tradition started by the first Rotary Club of Long Beach presi-dent, Joe Motell who celebrated his birthday at the Nursery for 30 years. Fry, who is marketing director of Community Hospital of Long Beach, accompanied by the hospital’s director of community relations Kathy Berry, enjoyed lunch with the kids of Room 3. Fry supplied cupcakes and ice cream for everyone. The kids made a big happy birthday sign and created and decorated a crown to celebrate her big day.

“The party with the kids was the best gift I have ever given myself. It was my pleasure to share my birthday at LBDN,” Fry said.At the Rotary meeting following her celebration at

LBDN, she challenged other Rotarians to have a birthday party for themselves at the Nursery.“It was obvious that the event meant a lot to her. She was very inspiring,” said John Zahn, fellow Rotarian.The Rotary Club of Long Beach has supported LBDN since the club was founded in 1917. We are grateful for its

support and the enthusiasm of Ann Fry. Kathy Berry plans to celebrate her birthday here October 30.

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Long Beach Day Nursery News

Children and parents alike enjoy the antics of Jeebow the Clown.

Top: East receptionist Dannah Perez with her children, Joseph, Melissa and Destiny Delgadillo.Below: Deangela Lucios.

Kaitlin Brooks and Melissa Delgadillo.

Ann Fry celebrates her birthday with the children from Room 3 at the West Branch.

LBDN Annual Family PicnicLBDN Annual Family Picnic

Rotarian Celebrates Birthday at the West Branch

Picnic Photos by Salvador Farfan, Caught in the Moment Photography.

(continued from page 1

Fall 2008

to weather the 85-day budget storm through prudent cash flow management and expense control. No children were turned away; no classrooms were closed; no employees were laid off.

But what would have happened if the stalemate had continued? And what about next year when we go through this again? What will be the impact of the turmoil in the broader economic context? These are hard ques-tions that we are already beginning to address. And while it is not my intent here to make a political statement, I will take the liberty of saying that what happened this

year went way beyond the usual budget “dance." Our most vulnerable children and families throughout the state were held hostage. We would all do well to remember the words of Mahatma Gandhi. “The best test of a civilized society is the way in which it treats its most vulnerable and weakest members.”

Patrice WongExecutive Director

president of the Long Beach Unified School District Education Foundation Board of Governors. Carrie now lives in Tyler, Texas and serves on the board of the East Texas Food Bank, an agency that feeds people in need in east Texas, including victims of the recent hurricanes.

“I still support LBDN because it is close to my heart. I love Long Beach, it is my home town. LBDN has been in existence for so long, meeting the need for child care in the area. I want the Nursery to last another 100 years,” she said.

“I’m impressed by the longevity of the staff, with the long-term commitment that is asked of the board members, and with the way LBDN seeks out advice and

support from experts in the community to ensure that the hard decisions are made and made well.

“I’m also impressed with the professional way the Nursery manages its endowment. It has a strong resolve not to invade the corpus. The management turns to experts to support its investment policies, and has an experienced volunteer committee overseeing it. These measures are reassuring that the Nursery will indeed be around for another 100 years. I believe it is a sound invest-ment,” she added.

Please join us in thanking Carrie for her years of support and for investing in the future of the Nursery.

children of Long Beach.“Our goal is to have 100 Building

Blocks for the Future members by our 100-year anniversary in 2012. We currently have 44 members,” Mary Soth said. The complete list can be found on page 5.

Artist Gregory Navarro Pickens, who teaches at South East High School in South Gate, selected a group of students to work on the Building Blocks for the Future donor wall. There were about 15 who participated, most of them worked on a single Saturday. Abel Rosas, Jesus Hernandez and Elihezar Cordova were actually hired by Pickens to work on the figures and put in a good 40 hours on the project. All of the students were in either Pickens’ Intro to Art or Intro to Painting classes last year.

(continued from page 5)

(continued from page 1)

Abrel Rosas, Gregory Navarro Pickens, Jesus Hernandez, Elihezar Cordova and Jose Hernandez.

Building Blocks Donor Wall at East.

ED Message

Carrie Brookshire

Annual Meeting

ED Message

Carrie Brookshire

Annual Meeting

Long Beach Day Nursery News

Non Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDLong Beach, CAPermit No.614

Long Beach Day Nursery1548 Chestnut AvenueLong Beach, CA 90813

www.lbdn.orgAddress Service Requested

Long Beach Day Nursery is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Early Child Educator by both policy and practice, and is in

compliance with Federal labor laws that forbid discrimination.

West Branch/Administrative Offices1548 Chestnut AvenueLong Beach, CA 90813562.591.0509

East Branch3965 Bellflower BoulevardLong Beach, CA 90808562.421.1488

Long Beach Day Nursery NewsEditor: Eileen FactorPhotography: Carla Chua, Eileen FactorDesigner: Oroz Co. DesignPrinter: Seaside Printing

The mission of the Long Beach Day Nursery is to provide quality early care and education for young children of working parents.

Board of Directors & Officers 2008-09:ChairElaine ThompsonChair-electJonathan D. Gotz1st Vice Chair, PersonnelNathan Olsen2nd Vice Chair, Board DevelopmentLinda Silver3rd Vice Chair, Resource DevelopmentJames BunnellRecording SecretaryGregory HaeselerTreasurerBrian RussellBoard Members:Joan Alderson Judy HessCarolyn Bixby Jannell JonesBarbara Bixby Blackwell Deloris MayugaMichael Brown Gail SchwandnerGregory Burnight Michael SoutarGayle Clock Julia TaboadaSalvador Farfan Melanie Werts

Board of Directors & Officers 2008-09:

Program Director Amy Bigelow presents diploma to graduate Myles Ware.

Graduates patiently wait for ceremony to begin.

Ashley Luis, Natalie Lechuga, Claudette Correa, Christian Gonzalez, Fernando

Mateos, Kamarah Burgess.

Accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children