Dear Preschool Supporter:

While it seems as though we've just settled into our summer routines, it's time to make sure that children who turn four by Nov. 2 of this year are enrolled in a high-quality LAUP preschool program this coming school year.

LAUP is pleased to announce a partnership with Ralphs and Food 4 Less supermarkets, which have made us one of the grocery chains' official charities. This means the public will now be able to directly support LAUP through the supermarket chains' Community Contributions program, by simply shopping for groceries.

The Honorable Angie Reyes English is in her first full term as a member of the Hawthorne City Council. As a former preschool teacher and PTA President at Leuzinger High School, Councilwoman English is an ardent supporter of education in Hawthorne and LAUP is proud to feature her as a preschool supporter. We recently spoke to Councilwoman English at the South Bay Universal Child Development Center in Hawthorne.

Recent, prolonged negotiations at the state and federal levels that appeared to be over will still have an impact for early education funding later this year.

A recent analysis of PISA, an international standardized assessment of 15-year-olds in 65 countries, revealed that even when accounting for differences in socio-economic backgrounds, children who participated in early education programs scored an average of 33 points higher. That represented a gain of about one additional year of schooling compared to those who didn't enroll in such programs.

It's the kids. We do it for the kids. And that is where your donation goes: to programs, classrooms and quality education that directly benefits the kids of Los Angeles County. Your investment in the children of our community pays a lifetime of positive returns. Your donation, no matter what size, helps another child move that much closer to obtaining a high-quality preschool education, which prepares them for a successful future thanks to the proven benefits of preschool education. On behalf of all the children of LAUP, we thank you for your donation and welcome you to the LAUP family.