Nearly $165,000 in First Thousand Days Grants Fuel Cross-Sector Collaboration Across the St. Croix Valley

Regional Partners Align to Strengthen Children’s Earliest Years

Smiles and shared moments mark the Secure Attachments: Confident Parents & Thriving Kids Reunion, where Stillwater Area Schools’ ECFE Program— a 2026 First Thousand Days Grant recipient—supports confident parents and thriving children.

Across the St. Croix Valley, early childhood partners are aligning their efforts in new ways, connecting healthcare providers, employers, schools, and nonprofits to support families during a child’s earliest years.

This month, the St. Croix Valley Foundation awarded nearly $165,000 in First Thousand Days grants to 11 organizations serving Washington and Chisago counties in Minnesota, and Polk, Burnett, St. Croix, and Pierce counties in Wisconsin.

Since launching the First Thousand Days Grant Program in 2024, the Foundation has awarded $481,000 to support what research makes clear: the first thousand days—from pregnancy to age three—shape lifelong health, learning, and well-being.

The program was established through the generosity of Bill and Rita Lawson of Somerset, Wisconsin, who created the First Thousand Days Field Fund to spark sustained local investment in early childhood. Additional donors continue to build on that vision. This year’s funding cycle drew 17 applications requesting more than $232,000, reflecting both growing need and deep regional commitment.

“We are grateful to the volunteer panel who carefully reviewed these proposals and helped guide funding decisions,” said Angie Pilgrim, Vice President of Community Impact. “Each year, we see stronger collaboration across the region alongside meaningfully focused local programs reaching families at pivotal moments. These grants reflect thoughtful, research-informed investments in children and caregivers during a critical stage of development.”

Regional Collaboration Expands Support Beyond Traditional Settings

Building on last year’s funding, this grant will expand the partnership between HealthPartners Valley Hospitals’ Little Moments Count, Family Resource Center St. Croix Valley, and Family Friendly Workplaces — bringing early childhood science directly into workplaces across western Wisconsin.

The partners are updating employer toolkits with Little Moments Count messaging, distributing evidence-based content through employer communications, and co-hosting Walk, Roll & Read events connecting families to community resources. Through its employer certification program, Family

Friendly Workplaces now engages businesses representing more than 25,000 employees, a number expected to grow significantly this year.

Tiny hands lead to curiosity as a baby fingerpaints at the Secure Attachments: Confident Parents & Thriving Kids Reunion, hosted by Stillwater Area Schools’ ECFE Program, a recipient of the 2026 First Thousand Days Grant.

“Employers are a powerful node capable of setting the weather (a constant storm of stressors and risks) for families,” said Neil Kline, Executive Director of Family Friendly Workplaces. “The first thousand days of a child’s life are really the kick-off to each child’s long-term workforce development. When employers understand that connection, they begin to see how the schedules, benefits, and policies they set shape the conditions families experience every day.”

Local Programs Reaching Families Early

In addition to regional collaboration, the Foundation supports efforts rooted in local communities. One example is Stillwater Area Schools’ Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE), which received a grant to expand its Secure Attachments: Confident Parents & Thriving Kids program. The seven-week class supports parents and infants during the earliest months of life, focusing on bonding, emotional regulation, and caregiver confidence. Over the past two years, 50 parents completed the course, with 100% reporting a stronger bond with their baby.

2026 First Thousand Days Grant Recipients

Organization Name	Program Name	Grant Amount
Family Friendly Workplaces, Inc.	General Operating	$25,000
Family Resource Center St. Croix Valley	General Operating	$25,000
HealthPartners Valley Hospitals	Little Moments Count	$25,000
Reach Out and Read Minnesota	Reach Out and Read in Chisago and Washington Counties	$25,000
Reach Out and Read Wisconsin	Reach Out and Read in Western Wisconsin	$25,000
Burnett County Family Resource Center, Inc.	General Operating	$20,000
Bridge to Books	Dolly Parton's Imagination Library	$5,000
Wyoming Area Creative Arts Community, Inc.	Babies Are Artists, Too!	$5,000
Pierce County Public Health Department	Pierce County Birth to 3	$4,924
Stillwater Area Schools, ECFE	Secure Attachments: Confident Parents & Thriving Kids	$2,900
St. Croix Falls Public Library	Rejuvenate Early Literacy Kits	$2,000

The St. Croix Valley Foundation partners with donors, affiliates, and nonprofits to steward and grow endowments that fuel community impact today and for generations to come.

To donate to the First Thousand Days fund, click here.