Dear Preschool Supporter:

In just a few short weeks, almost 11,000 young children will begin their educational journey as they walk into the classroom of an LAUP preschool.

There is a health crisis among our children and no where is it more distressing than in Los Angeles County where the average rate of overweight and obese children is estimated at an alarming 42%. LAUP is actively seeking an educational solution to this disturbing issue.

Through Aug. 31, LAUP will receive a donation of one book for every person in the Los Angeles area who registers on www.SoarWithReading.com by entering their name, zip code and a favorite children's book title.

Most parents will tell you that the transition from their newborn cooing and crawling, to running around and talking, to getting ready for kindergarten, happens in what feels like a minute. It is no surprise then that many families feel unprepared and anxious about their child entering kindergarten.

CEO Celia C. Ayala, Ph.D., Board Chair Jean Bixby Smith and Board Member David Crippens recently completed the Alchemy Leadership Seminar, a prestigious leadership program offered by the Annenberg Foundation whose mission is to inspire non-profit organizations to greatness through the development of effective leaders.

It's the kids. We do it for the kids. And that is where your donation goes: to programs, classrooms and quality education that directly benefits the kids of Los Angeles County. Your investment in the children of our community pays a lifetime of positive returns. Your donation, no matter what size, helps another child move that much closer to obtaining a high-quality preschool education, which prepares them for a successful future thanks to the proven benefits of preschool education. On behalf of all the children of LAUP, we thank you for your donation and welcome you to the LAUP family.