Senate Republican Leader Mike Hewitt has been named a member of the board of directors of “Thrive by Five Washington,” a public-private partnership that will channel funding into new and innovative approaches to early childhood education.

“This effort is important because it’s not just another government-run program aimed at getting kids into the public school system earlier,” said Hewitt, R-Walla Walla. “The funding provided by Thrive by Five will go not only toward things like funding new and better preschools and daycares, but also toward helping parents learn what they can do at home to better prepare their children for school.”

Earlier this month, Thrive by Five Washington announced the donation of $9 million for two pilot projects in White Center and the Puget Sound Educational Service District. The money also will be used for staff training, parent education and support, and boosting the quality of existing preschool programs.

As a member of the board, Hewitt will help oversee Thrive by Five Washington’s overall efforts and keep the group on track. Other board members include state Rep. Ruth Kagi; Alan Mulally and Bob Watt of The Boeing Company; Jackie Bezos of the Bezos Family Foundation; Mona Locke of the Foundation for Early Learning; Jolene McCaw of the Talaris Research Institute; Kim Ackerly Cleworth of the Ginger and Barry Ackerly Foundation; Tony Benton of Clear Channel; state Superintendent of Public Instruction Terry Bergeson; Tricia McKay of the Medina Foundation; Kevin C. Washington of Tabor 100; Dan Kranzler of the Kirlin Charitable Foundation; and Cliff Lawrence of Wells Fargo. Gov. Christine Gregoire and Bill Gates Sr. will co-chair the board.

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Additional contacts: Rebecca Japhet at (360) 786-7516, Japhet.Rebecca@leg.wa.gov or Brian Zylstra at (360) 786-7399, Zylstra.Brian@leg.wa.gov

For the latest news and information from the Senate Republican Caucus visit the Senate Republican Media Center at http://www.src.wa.gov