A message from Dr. Natalya Roby, ECS4Kids President & CEO
At ECS4Kids we believe in the Power of the Start for the children and families we serve. Our work begins on the very first day of a child’s life, and the impact of that beginning can shape generational success long after they enter kindergarten. That makes the start of a new year especially meaningful for us. Each new year offers an opportunity for every one of us to begin again and step into Day 1 with renewed purpose.
The ECS4Kids journey reflects the same growth journey our children experience from Day 1. Having people in our corner makes all the difference. Because of partnerships like yours, what started in a small Jacksonville church has grown into a leading early learning, child, and family service organizations in the Southeast. Our growth has been defined not only by our size, but by the strength and quality of the services we provide.
2025 was an incredibly strong year for our mission. Over the past year, ECS4Kids grew programmatically by 35 percent. We expanded both within our hometown of Duval and into ten new counties in Georgia where children and families are experiencing tremendous need. This growth means more children served, more families supported, and more lives changed. It also comes at a time when families across the country are feeling the weight of a growing childcare crisis. ECS4Kids is uniquely positioned to meet that challenge head on in 2026.
Across the nation, communities are facing rising childcare costs that outpace inflation. The average annual cost of infant care in Florida has climbed to more than $13,000. For many families, this exceeds the cost of rent or even college tuition and forces parents to make impossible decisions about work and caregiving. At the same time, childcare providers are experiencing staffing shortages and financial strain. Nearly half of early educators earn wages so low they depend on public assistance. These pressures have created widespread childcare deserts and contribute to billions of dollars in lost earnings and productivity across the country.
This year, we will continue coordinating closely with our partners and welcoming new allies who share our commitment to solving this crisis. ECS4Kids is not simply a voice of concern. We are an engine for action. In 2026, we will advance concrete steps that strengthen our programming and directly address the challenges facing children, families, and educators. We will share these efforts with you as they unfold.
This year also marks a milestone that fills us with deep gratitude. In 2026 we celebrate our 60th year of service. That is 60 years of building brighter futures together. It is 60 years of believing in the potential of children, in the strength of families, and in the power of community partnerships. Throughout the year, we invite you to join us in celebrating this milestone. Whether you have shared your time, your resources, or your encouragement, you have played a vital role in helping us move closer to creating generational success for the families who need it most.
On behalf of everyone at ECS4Kids, thank you for walking this journey with us. We look forward to continuing this mission with you in the year ahead and for many years to come.
As we step into this milestone year, may we all renew our commitment to the Power of the Start. Because every strong beginning, whether in a child’s life or in a new year, opens the door to a brighter future.
Here’s to an extraordinary 2026 and an unforgettable 60th anniversary year.
