Posted by | CDS

by Dana McConnell, CDS Executive Director

It has been my privilege to serve the CDS staff, our partners and over 6,000 families this year. As I look back over the past eleven months, I am truly humbled by what we’ve accomplished together.

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We began the year with a landscaping makeover, a beautiful mural, and the mural garden, thanks to the Greenville Garden Club and students from St. Joseph’s Catholic School. The ladies from the garden club also held a special fashion show luncheon featuring one of the children we serve. Shortly thereafter, SANDLAPPER Securities hosted a special night at the hockey game with many of our families participating in the pre-game festivities.

As summer approached, our momentum didn’t slow down. We revealed a new logo, updated our brochures, and launched a new website. In July, the community gave us a huge vote of confidence when we were awarded our first ever Best in the Upstate for Best Child Development Center. This momentum continued right into our 15th year anniversary with week-long activities and lots of celebration. We also approved a new three-year strategic plan which gave us a road map toward new goals and challenges.

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In the financial arena, we received two significant funding grants: Greenville Women Giving and the JL Mann spirit week. Those two grants have re-defined what is possible at CDS, and allowed us to look toward the future needs for our families. In addition, we recorded a strong Eggs Benefit, our annual breakfast fundraiser, and enhanced our outreach program with Bon Secours St. Francis. The community’s passion toward funding our mission validates that what we do does make a difference.

Staff 2015

No leader can stand without a supportive staff, and to that regard, I must give credit to the wonderful team at CDS. I cannot imagine our organization without their contributions, or the continual support of our partners, board members, and the community. I am truly grateful for the collaborative effort of all of us working together.