Giving Circle Puts Focus On Pre-K Education

Fred Rogers once said, “It’s not so much what we have in this life that matters. It’s what we do with what we have.” Kindness and a love for children were the hallmarks of Mr. Rogers. In that same spirit, the Moore Women – A Giving Circle do more than donate to charitable causes; they uplift our neighborhoods by assisting the most vulnerable among us.

Formed in 2014, these philanthropically minded ladies use their collective giving power to influence and touch the lives of those in need. In particular, their outreach has focused on supporting local agencies that work with women and young children.

Each year the Giving Circle, in partnership with the North Carolina Community Foundation, opens a competitive grants program, and members vote on how their shared donations will be distributed. With 55 active members, this year the Giving Circle awarded $70,260 to four local organizations, including Friends of the Moore County Library System ($4,000) for new children’s titles for its mobile bookmobile, The Arc of Moore County ($2,500) to provide support for families of preschool children with intellectual and developmental disabilities, Partners for Children and Families ($29,760) to fund six NC Pre-K slots at Westmoore Elementary School, and Northern Moore Family Resource Center ($34,000) to to support its Hope Academy Preschool in Robbins.

One of the tools the North Carolina Community Foundation provides to the Moore Women — A Giving Circle is a community needs assessment. Using data compiled from a variety of sources, such as the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners, the Carolina Population Center at UNC-Chapel Hill, myFutureNC, NC Child and the North Carolina Housing Coalition, the annual report provides a stark look at Moore County.

At the grant reception held Friday, Nov. 14, at Weymouth Center for the Arts and Humanities, in Southern Pines, Diane Galusky, grant committee chair of Moore Women, said they had received 28 grant applications in 2025. Using the community needs assessment to help guide their efforts, Galusky said it was clear the most pressing need in Moore County is for early learning opportunities.

“Only one in six children is able to participate in a pre-kindergarten classroom. Part of the reason is the state legislature has not increased the number of NC Pre-K funded seats in 24 years,” Galusky said. “We are at the same level of funding for NC Pre-K as we had in 2001 — and it wasn’t enough money back then. These four grants all contribute to educational opportunities for our youngest citizens.”

Hope Academy

The $34,000 grant to the Northern Moore Family Resource Center (NMFRC) is the largest single award the Moore Women — A Giving Circle has allocated. The contribution benefits the Hope Academy Preschool, which is celebrating a decade of serving children ages 2 ½ to 5 years. In addition to a strong educational foundation, Hope Academy ensures children are cared for holistically. Students are served breakfast and lunch daily, and take part in field trips, special events, and unique hands-on experiences that broaden their learning and social development opportunities. Hope Academy currently serves 53 students, the maximum capacity.

“Our Hope Academy Preschool program has had a tremendous impact on school preparedness at Robbins Elementary School” says Clare Ruggles, NMFRC’s executive director.  “This significant grant from Moore Women — A Giving Circle helps ensure the long-term affordability and sustainability of our program.  We are grateful that this group of women understands and values the important foundation that a robust early childhood education provides, so that children begin school ready to succeed and flourish.”

 In addition to the preschool program, NMFRC provides after school support to students at Robbins Elementary and Elise Middle schools, as well as a six-week summer program serving preschoolers through rising eigthth graders.

“There is meaningful work happening in Robbins,” said Megan Keating, development director for NMFRC. “These children are so special and they need so much help… We are giving them stability. We are giving them hope that there is so much out there for them. They are so happy to be there and to learn. This award and this grant is being used in the best way possible.” 

Partners for Children and Families

Partners for Children and Families has served as Moore County’s Smart Start agency for more than 30 years, connecting  families to vital programs that promote healthy child development, early literacy, parenting support and school readiness. This fall, Partners assumed administration of the NC Pre-K program, a state-funded initiative designed to prepare eligible 4-year-olds for success in kindergarten and beyond. Currently, Moore County has one of the lowest numbers of allocated NC Pre-K slots in the state on a per-capita basis. 

“We are an advocate and champion for moving that number of seats higher,” said Julia Latham, development director with Partners for Children and Families. “To do this, we have to demonstrate our ability to absorb more seats into our county.”

Working in close cooperation with Moore County Schools, Dr. Judy Heffner is leading Partners’ effort to ensure eligible children across the county have access to quality pre-k classrooms. 

The $29,760 grant from the Giving Circle will fund six NC Pre-K slots at Westmoore Elementary School. In addition, Partners for Children and Families will further increase access by adding 17 additional NC Pre-K seats at the Hope Academy in Robbins, starting in January 2026. This expansion is made possible through funding available from the North Carolina Partnership for Children.

“You have helped create a sea change in Westmoore,” Latham told the Giving Circle members. “This will make an incredible difference in the lives of those families and those children. When they enter the kindergarten classroom, they will be ready in a way they wouldn’t have been before.”

“Expanding NC Pre-K access in Moore County is a top priority for our organization,” said Stuart Mills, executive director for Partners for Children and Families. “This generous grant from Moore Women – A Giving Circle directly supports children and families in our rural communities and helps ensure that every child, regardless of ZIP code, enters kindergarten ready to learn.”

“We are deeply grateful to Moore Women – A Giving Circle for their continued partnership and belief in the power of early childhood education,” added Latham. “Their investment strengthens the foundation of our community and creates lasting opportunities for Moore County’s youngest learners.” 

The Arc of Moore County

The Arc of Moore County exists to enhance the quality of life for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families through advocacy, support and services. 

The $2,500 grant from the Giving Circle will be directed to First in Families, an innovative resource for Arc families to request assistance for specific needs.

“We operate under the premise that families raising children or adults with disabilities are the experts in what they need,” said Executive Director Wendy Carter. “So we have made individual and family choices and trust our bottom line.”

Through the program, families can seek funding to purchase assistive devices, service and support such as respite and child care, or therapies, and assistance with basic living needs and medical expenses. “The reason we applied for this grant for the last two years is we have a large contingent of clients with young children and preschool looks a lot different for a child with a disability,” Carter said, including transportation or adaptive devices such as iPads. “We try to meet them with their specific request while asking the community to partner with us.”

Carter said the Arc of Moore County saw $200,000 in funding slashed last year, which they have yet to make up for. “We are struggling,” she told members of Moore Women — A Giving Circle. “You are a vital part of what The Arc is and what we do.” 

Friends of the Moore County Library

With a collection of 80,000 books, audios, videos, periodicals, newspapers and other items, the Moore County Library System operates the main library in Carthage, four branch libraries in Aberdeen, Pinebluff, Robbins and Vass. The Bookmobile is considered its sixth branch, said Library Director Alice Thomas, and has the highest circulation next to Carthage. Four days a week, the Bookmobile is on the road — taking 1,100 books to day care centers, senior centers and communities across the area.

The $4,000 grant from the Giving Circle will be used to purchase new children’s titles for the Bookmobile. Thomas said there is high demand for holiday-themed books and curriculum books — such as stories about community helpers or the five senses. 

“Many at the day care centers are children from low income families, and we bring the library to them. We want to encourage early literacy and that is easier when we have a collection of age-appropriate books that are pretty and not taped together,” Thomas said. “We want the childcare providers to have lots of books to choose from and share with these children.” 

‘Your Impact is Tremendous’

Through her role with the North Carolina Community Foundation, Jan Pender helps support 1,300 fund holders and six Giving Circles across the state. At the awards reception, she thanked members of Moore Women.

“This circle has given some of the largest grants we have distributed this year. Your impact is tremendous,” she said.

In total, the Moore Women —A Giving Circle has provided 92 grants and over $370,000 to local organizations since its inception. 

Wanda Sweeney, leadership co-chair of the Giving Circle, noted the organization’s very first meeting was also held at the Weymouth Center. “We have come full circle and we cannot do it without you.”

She also expressed gratitude for all of the nonprofits in Moore County who have seen where there are needs and stepped up to meet them. Quoting Mr. Rogers, Sweeney said “‘When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping’.

“If you are looking for the helpers, everyone in this room is a helper. The people receiving these awards, we won’t see them but their lives will be changed by our collective giving. This money goes to the right people in need. Thank you for being wonderful helpers in our neighborhood.”

The Moore Women – A Giving Circle is actively recruiting new members. For information, visit nccommunityfoundation.org/MooreWomen.