When a community comes together to co-create a space for its children, the results reach far beyond the classroom walls. Since 1983, the Rutland Parent Participation Preschool has been proving exactly that. By delivering licensed, inclusive early childhood education for children ages 3–5, this school-based program focuses on much more than kindergarten readiness. It actively wraps around Rutland families who need flexible, developmentally responsive supports.
At the heart of their success is a foundational belief that has guided the organization for over forty years: parents are a child’s first and most important teachers.
The Challenge
When Kristel Ritchie stepped into her role as Facility Manager, the preschool was in the middle of a significant transition. The team was working to rebrand what “parent participation” meant, moving away from older expectations and toward a more flexible, inclusive approach where involvement was encouraged rather than required.
At its core, this shift reflected a deeper change in philosophy. Kristel described it as a move where parent participation now looks more like an opportunity to be involved, rather than something mandatory or a chore.
At the same time, funding was essential to make that transition possible. The organization also had to navigate practical barriers from previous years as it worked to rebuild its grant readiness and strengthen its funding strategy.
When they connected with Do Gooders, the need was clear. They were looking for support to strengthen their funding applications and bring clarity to a process that felt overwhelming from the outside.
The Approach
From the beginning, the work together focused on rebuilding confidence in the grant process while creating structure around applications and funding strategy.
Kristel described the early experience as a learning curve, but one where support was consistent. As applications were developed and refined, the Do Gooders team helped translate internal ideas into clear, fundable proposals while also guiding the organization through eligibility challenges and strengthening their understanding of the grant application process.
“It felt like I was being taken care of by professionals every step of the way,” Kristel shared. “Everything came back to me so much more polished. It was like it had been picked out of my brain, and I loved that.”
The Outcome
With support from Do Gooders, the Rutland Parent Participation Preschool Society secured funding that is helping strengthen and expand its programming.
Most recently, the organization received $11,400 from the Community Gaming Grant. This funding is being used to bolster current programming and support continued growth. She shared that working with Do Gooders was “the best investment we made that year,” adding that the process was not only helpful for grant writing but also informative for day-to-day programming decisions. Check out her full video testimonial here.
Looking Ahead
With renewed clarity around funding and a stronger foundation for grant applications, the Rutland Parent Participation Preschool Society is continuing to refine its programming model and expand how it supports families.
The organization is now better positioned to grow its impact while staying true to its roots in accessibility and parent participation. For Kristel and her team, that means continuing to adapt to changing community needs while ensuring children have meaningful opportunities for learning, connection, and outdoor experience.
Do Gooders remains a collaborative partner in that process, helping translate evolving ideas into structured funding opportunities so the team can focus more on the children and families they serve.
