Big gift to help little learners

A gift from Omaha philanthropist Susie Buffett to the Campaign for Nebraska will help early childhood education.

Closing the gap between the optimal and actual conditions for thinking, behavior, language and socio-emotional growth of young children from birth to age 8 is another step closer now, thanks to a gift from Omaha philanthropist Susie Buffett to the Campaign for Nebraska. Early childhood education is one of the priorities of the university’s fundraising campaign, which was announced publicly in 2009. Buffett, a member of the campaign leadership committee, spoke about the importance of early childhood education at the campaign kickoff.

Buffett’s gift will create the Buffett Early Childhood Institute at the University of Nebraska and help build three Educare Centers in Nebraska. Buffett works with partners across the country to build Educare Centers, which are high quality early childhood centers for low-income families. The Buffett Early Childhood Institute will focus on education, research and policy and be led by an executive director. Buffett requested her gift amount remain anonymous. The gift will be matched by other funds for an investment greater than $100 million.

The gift will improve teacher training and education, support research on evidence-based evaluations and support access to and use of technology in teacher training and certification.

“The land grant university model is not just about agriculture,” said Eric Buchanan, director of corporate and foundation relations at the University of Nebraska Foundation. “Lessons learned here can be incorporated into public school environments, home daycares and other places.”

Read the news release about the gift here.

Give online to the early childhood fund at the University of Nebraska Foundation or call Eric Buchanan at 800-432-3216.