The Communty Early Learning Center’s efforts to unite community resources to improve early education has been recognized with a 2016 Collaboration in Action award fomr Lawrence University.

With help from $786,750 in grants from Community Foundation funds and supporting organizations, a $2 million renovation converted the former St. Mary Catholic Central School at 313 S. State St. in Appleton to house:

• Project Bridges Day Care
• University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh Head Start
• Even Start Family Literacy
• Outagamie County Early Childhood Intervention
• Appleton Area School District 4-year-old kindergarten

Lawrence faculty and advisors have been involved from the start, serving on committees, developing a shared database for the agencies and assisting with screenings and data analysis.

Dr. John Mielke, praised Lawrence’s commitment to the project.

“I look at all of you and what you have done — your vision, your work and your kindness — without that, I really don’t think that we would have the learning center,” he said.

The Mielke Family Foundation, affiliated with the Community Foundation as a supporting organization, gave a major grant to get the CELC started.

The Collaboration in Action Award recognizes an individual or organization, who in partnership with Lawrence has provided service to the Fox Cities community through vision, leadership, commitment and enthusiasm, financial contributions and/or volunteerism.