History and Enduring Values

A Brighter Community, Inc. got its start in 1925 when the United Way was known as the Community Chest, pulling together 16 agencies in its first fund drive. At that time the center was known as the WCTU Day Nursery. The buyers for the land, well known in Tampa's history are J.A. Epps and J.G. Bedingfield. The trustees were listed as James W. Morris Jr., James Handly, E.H. Robinson, W. Raleigh Petteway and Howard P. Macfarlane. The nursery later became known as the Tampa Day nursery and still remains at the same location just north of downtown.

A Brighter Community, Inc. is a non-profit, United Way supported, nationally accredited preschool and family support program. Through community collaborations we offer access to speech, occupational, and physical therapy along with mental health counseling. We serve economically and environmentally at risk children, ages 3-5 years. We are one of five contracted Head Start sites in Hillsborough County, and we offer a before and after school program. We are a certified voluntary pre-kindergarten provider. A master's level social worker is on staff to provide family support services and play therapy to students with identified special needs.

Our mission is to develop school-ready children and strengthen families by providing access to a nationally accredited preschool and family support system.

Changing Lives and Futures

Stepping back to 1925 when the Model T consisted of more than half the automobiles in the U.S, the Jazz Age was in its infancy, and hair, along with shirt lengths, were on the rise. The 20's became known as the age of intolerance and the Age of Wonderful Nonsense. Americans had survived WWI and the new decade would become a time of change.

WCTU Day Nursery founder Mama Houston, saw a need for a change and had a plan. With her insight and dedication she saw the need for a daycare and school for hard working, lower income families. Mrs. Houston's values remain the same today, helping those who are willing to help themselves.

The addition of a family support program enables the staff at ABC to provide services to not only the preschool children but to the families as well. Our family support system provides resources, referral information, and assistance in housing, employment, education, transportation, and holiday aid.

Early Childhood Facts

According to Child Trends research, “children who experience child abuse, neglect, or family violence are at a risk for poor development not only during their childhood, but also throughout their lives”.

Current research in brain development clearly indicated that the emotional, physical, and intellectual environment that a child is exposed to in early years has a profound impact on how the brain is organized. The experiences of a child with respect to parents and caregivers significantly influence the child long term. Family researchers have discovered that poor communication can lead to excessive conflict, ineffective problem solving, lack of intimacy, weak emotional bonding and behavioral problems in children. (Bray & Heatherington, 1993).

Furthermore early childhood programs benefit the community as a whole. For every dollar invested in preschool, an average of $7.10 is returned to the community. Studies from the High/Scope Perry Preschool Project indicate that children who attend preschool have:

• Higher IQ scores when children entered school
• Better grades through age 19
• Higher scores on achievement test through age 14
• Fewer placements in special education through age 19 (16% vs 28%)
• Higher graduation rate from high school (66% vs 45%)
• Higher employment rate at age 19 (50% vs 32%)
• Fewer welfare recipients through age 27 (15% vs 32%)
• Higher monthly earning at age 27 ($1,220 vs $770)
• Fewer criminal arrests than their peers