2026 Award Winners
Family Center of Washington County
Family Center of Washington County's mission is to build resourceful families and healthy children as the foundation of a strong, resilient, and thriving community. As the state-designated Parent Child Center for Central Vermont and a proud member of the Vermont Parent Child Center Network, they are part of a statewide system dedicated to strengthening families, promoting healthy child development, and preventing crisis before it occurs. The Cooking, Nutrition, and Food Access Program is a comprehensive initiative designed to address food insecurity among families with young children by combining direct food access, hands-on education, and individualized support. The program is rooted in the belief that all families deserve not only enough food, but also access to nutritious, culturally appropriate meals and the skills needed to prepare them.
Greensboro Free Library
The Greensboro Free Library supports young children and families through compassionate and interactive workshops for parents and caregivers in addition to providing a fuller library of resources to our community at large. They invite families to participate in these programs and use these resources to strengthen their bonds with their children and gain confidence in their skills in providing effective support and guidance to foster curiosity and a love of learning in their young children.
Middlebury Community Music Center (MCMC)
MCMC's Music Together (MT) is a comprehensive Early Childhood Music enrichment curriculum for ages 0-5 that uses research-based methods to support child development, strengthen parent-child relationships, and develop musical competence and confidence in children. MT offers a comprehensive curriculum with singing/dancing/drumming/basic instrument playing. MT has existed since 1987 and combines decades of neuroscience/child psychology/pedagogic research/experience in the form of its trademarked curriculum and classroom resources. The program’s impact is deep and far reaching and backed by decades of research.
North Branch Nature Center
This grant will be used across North Branch Nature Center's Early Childhood Education (ECE) programs to deliver top-quality nature-based programming to young children and their families. This includes supporting Forest Preschool (FPS), Robin’s Nest (RN), and ECO (Educating Children Outdoors) in public preschool and Kindergarten classes.
River Arts
This Turrell Fund Landon Award will be used to expand and strengthen Kinder Arts, River Arts' free early childhood arts initiative serving children ages birth to five and their caregivers throughout Lamoille County. Kinder Arts includes three interconnected programs: Move & Groove, a weekly music and movement class for young children and caregivers; Big & Messy, a hands-on process art program that encourages exploration and sensory learning; and our off-site preschool cultural arts residency program, which brings arts education directly into area preschools.
The Children's Room (Early Education Resource Center)
One of The Children’s Room's most impactful programs is its weekly Music & Movement class, a free drop-in program held in Waterbury, Vermont for young children and their caregivers. Rooted in evidence-informed early childhood practices, the program serves as both an enriching developmental experience and a proactive approach to emotional wellness during the critical years of development. Through shared musical experiences, the program strengthens caregiver-child attachment, fosters resilience, and builds meaningful community connection.
The Mentor Connector
The Stable Beginnings Initiative is designed to improve stability and well-being for both parenting youth and their young children experiencing homelessness or housing instability in Rutland County. Through this initiative, participating families will gain increased access to safe and stable living environments, essential infant and toddler supplies, supportive adult relationships, and community-based resources that strengthen long term family stability.