The Doris E. Schwartz Education Fund of the York County Community Foundation: Inspiring a Culture of Early Learning
When it comes to raising children, the old adage, It takes a village, remains true to this day. As for teaching children, early childhood education experts agree that the child’s village can help lay the foundation for a lifetime of learning. For York City children, that foundation is growing stronger thanks to the York City First 10 Basics Parenting Education Campaign.
Residing within the 5‑square‑miles of the City of York are over 6,000 students, and of those students, 4,723 are enrolled in one of the City’s eight elementary schools. When roughly 81.6% of the City’s student population are facing economic hardship and barriers to high-quality early learning resources, the need for a “village” becomes essential.
Experts also agree that parents and caregivers are meant to serve as pillars of strength in a child’s life. The stronger the pillars, the more structurally sound a child’s foundation. Doris E. Schwartz was someone who had a deep understanding of this basic principle.
Doris lived to be almost 100 years old and learned a thing or two about the importance of an education. During her lifetime, she was a teacher and later a flight attendant who travelled extensively across the globe. Her vast and varied experiences gave her an appreciation for learning new things – which she believed was possible at any age.
After her passing in 2013, The Doris E. Schwartz Education Fund of the York County Community Foundation (YCCF) was created from her estate. At the time of its creation, it was the single largest field of interest fund from an estate gift the Foundation had ever received. This fund honors Doris’ lifelong passion for acquiring knowledge by awarding grants to support educators and students across York County.
Through generous support from the Doris E. Schwartz Fund, the York City First 10 Basics Parenting Education Campaign is empowering caregivers by providing evidence-based practices that make a profound difference in early childhood development and learning abilities.
At the heart of the campaign are what the district calls The Basics. These are the five everyday practices that research shows can help foster growth and prepare a child for school:
- Maximize Love, Manage Stress
- Talk, Sing, and Point
- Count, Group, and Compare
- Explore Through Movement and Play
- Read and Discuss Stories
The School District of the City of York (SDCY) is leading this citywide campaign through its First 10 Partnership, a collaborative effort that connects schools, early childhood centers, and community organizations to better support children from birth through age 10. With the grant from YCCF, the district will hire a campaign Coordinator to ensure families have access to important tools, encouragement, and practical strategies to help their young learners thrive.
York City’s First 10 Partnership has already made progress through kindergarten readiness programs, play-and-learn groups, and early math initiatives. The new Basics campaign builds on this foundation, expanding outreach, particularly to families facing economic challenges or barriers to high-quality early learning.
The District’s Pre-K Principal, Dr. Angela Ashley has witnessed the impact of this program first-hand.
“Every child deserves a strong start — and as parents and caregivers, we hold that future in our hands. By embracing simple everyday actions — talking, reading, playing, loving — we build the foundation for a child’s lifelong learning, growth, and confidence. That’s the promise of The Basics: showing up, day after day, for the children we love,” shared Dr. Ashley.
Through the use of colorful posters, family events, public installations, and a free texting service called Basics Insights, caregivers receive friendly reminders that small, consistent moments of connection matter most for the health and development of young children. Whether it’s inside classrooms, a doctor’s office, libraries, a local grocery store, or even while dropping in for an appointment at their neighborhood barbershop, the messages serve as helpful tips and reminders that those early years are crucial to nurturing a child’s emotional wellbeing.
“The earlier we invest in our children, the stronger our community becomes,” said Natalee Gunderson, President & CEO of the York County Community Foundation. “YCCF is proud to support the School District of the City of York, its partners, and families around the shared goal of helping each child reach their full potential.”
It’s important to understand that the messenger is often as important as the message itself. By implementing a “socio-ecological saturation” approach, families will hear consistent, positive messages about early learning from trusted community messengers including pediatricians, teachers, and faith leaders. This collective effort reflects the community’s commitment to working together across private and public sectors to give children the best possible start.
When participating parents were asked to share their thoughts on the campaign, one remarked, “Math skills are so important to development. I’m very grateful for the resources shared, and know we will put them to good use in our house.”
Support for this program comes from more than just local residents. By partnering with local businesses and nonprofits including WellSpan Health, the United Way of York County, Community Connections for Children and others, the campaign has become a model of how collaboration and philanthropy can strengthen families and transform futures.
With YCCF’s grant support, York City’s First 10 Basics campaign isn’t just encouraging parents to spend quality time with their children, it’s inspiring a culture of early learning that will create towns and villages brimming with vibrant and thriving children, for generations to come.
