Taylorsville, UT — May 21, 2025— Friends of the Children- Utah and Waterford.org are partnering to celebrate and strengthen their shared commitment to supporting children from early learning through graduation. On Wednesday, May 28, the two organizations will host a special gathering to highlight the impact of combining early education and long-term professional mentorship on children and families.

This event also marks the launch of a pilot program designed to help Friends of the Children – Utah prevent summer learning loss among the children they serve. By integrating Waterford.org’s evidence-based early learning tools, the pilot aims to give families additional resources to keep children learning, reading, and engaged during the summer months.

Waterford.org offers evidence-based PreK-2nd grade learning programs that help young children build foundational skills in reading, math, and science, preparing them for kindergarten and beyond. Friends of the Children- Utah provides professional mentors to children facing some of life’s greatest challenges, offering consistent, long-term support from kindergarten through high school graduation. Together, the two organizations help children overcome obstacles, reach key milestones, and ensure they are prepared, confident, and connected every step of the way.

Why It Matters:

Every child deserves a strong start and steady support. When children have access to high-quality early education and consistent, caring adults in their corner, they are more likely to reach important milestones—like starting school ready to learn, building confidence in their abilities, staying engaged in school, and graduating prepared for the future.

“Our ‘no matter what’ commitment is about building deep, enduring relationships that foster connection and belonging for every child,” said Kelsey Lewis, Executive Director of Friends of the Children Utah. “Together, we’re supporting children as they grow—not just academically, but socially and emotionally as well.”

The partnership between Waterford.org and Friends of the Children Utah strengthens the support system for children by integrating early learning with long-term mentorship. Waterford.org’s early education programs lay the foundation for academic success, while Friends of the Children Utah ensures youth have continuous, reliable mentorship throughout their educational journey.

“At Waterford.org, we’re committed to ensuring every child has the opportunity to succeed from the start of their learning journey,” said Matt Hill, CEO of Waterford.org. “By providing high- quality, personalized early learning experiences, we’re helping children build the skills they need for future academic and life success.”

The gathering will bring together mentors, families, and staff from both organizations as well as other community partners including Help Me Grow Utah, JAYHAWKS, Utah Community Action and Girl Scouts of Utah to celebrate their collective efforts and the ongoing partnership aimed at helping children reach their full potential.

We appreciate the Utah Division of Multicultural Affairs generously committing grant funds to support this initiative and community celebration to expand opportunity and build capacity for more Utahns to thrive.