e-Newsletter – SPRING 2012

Terrence and Tamara

Sixteen years ago, Preschool Advantage was in its infancy and exposure to those that could benefit was, at the very least, minimal. Sixteen years ago, a mother of twins hit what she considered gold. She found a way to educate her youngest children despite her obstacle of not having the money to pay for it. She did not give up and she found Preschool Advantage.

Terrence and Tamara were only two years old when their father passed away. With an older son entering kindergarten, this Morristown family relied on social security survivors’ benefits and simply had no room in the budget for preschool tuition. This fact however, was not going to stop a determined mother who knew and valued the importance of early childhood education. Today, the twins’ mother Tracy reflects with pride of her children’s accomplishments with sincere appreciation for finding Preschool Advantage.

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Rick Thoeni – A Passion for the Mission

Board member and newly-elected Preschool Advantage (PA) Vice President Rick Thoeni recently began teaching music at one of Preschool Advantage’s partner schools, Little People’s Academy in Dover, NJ.

Rick and his wife Suzanne moved to New Jersey in 2007 and began volunteering with Preschool Advantage to help connect with their new environment. Rick’s passion for working with young children soon was reawakened through the organization. As a member of PA’s school committee, Rick was attending the annual partner school director’s luncheon and heard Little People’s owner, Carmen Espinosa and Luz Flores, the director, talking about their music program and how much fun the children had learning to play the guitar. The trouble was their volunteer music teacher was no longer able to help them. Rick heeded the call and volunteered to take on the role.

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