Contact: Heather Johnston
Helen R. Walton Children’s Enrichment Center
Phone: (479) 273-3552
Fax: (479) 271-6803
1701 NE Wildcat Way
Bentonville, AR 72712
Helen R. Walton Children’s
Enrichment Center
Press Release
Helen R. Walton Children’s Enrichment Center Partners with
Community Corporations to Celebrate Arkansas Children’s Week
Strengthening early childhood through community collaboration
The Helen R. Walton Children’s Enrichment Center (HWCEC) is privileged to have worked with a variety
of community partners throughout the entire week of April 13 to offer their children a multitude of
hands-on learning activities to celebrate Arkansas Children’s Week. Arkansas Children’s Week
celebrates the needs of young children and their families and serves to thank educators and others
involved in the education and care of young children. Arkansas Children’s Week coincides with the
national Week of the Young Child™ and is distinguished across the state and country by thousands of
local educators working to improve opportunities for all children.
Throughout the week, HWCEC partnered with A.W. Bravis, Panera Bread, East-Harding, Inc., Unilever,
United Way of Northwest Arkansas, J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc., Tyson Foods, Inc., Walmart Stores,
Inc., and Lowe’s Companies, Inc. A.W. Bravis printed Arkansas Children’s Week advocacy stickers and
Panera Bread donated breakfast to support the Limited Income Scholarship Program at HWCEC.
East-Harding brought various construction vehicles, equipment, and tools to
engage young learners in constructive play. Older children were able to climb
on the construction equipment, build cardboard neighborhoods, and learn
through hands on experiences, while younger learners used styrofoam and
golf tees to practice fine motor and coordination skills. Unilever brought their
ice cream truck and served ice cream to the children while Live United
Volunteers with United Way of Northwest Arkansas kept the children safe
during the activities.
By partnering with J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc., Tyson Foods, Inc., and
Walmart Stores, Inc., the children engaged in hands-on activities to explore
different modes of transportation. Using cognitive learning skills, children
learned about the delivery system of the food we eat, the clothing we wear,
and the cars we drive. Exploring the aspects of each tractor trailer, the
children were able to learn the basic functions of a tractor trailer and
distinguish the similarities and differences of the tractor trailers to the vehicles they are familiar with.
Lowe’s Companies, Inc. employees led a gardening activity
and helped the children build planters and plant
vegetables. Children exercised their fine motor skills while
learning about science and the needs of a plant.
Early learning experiences lay the foundation in the brain’s
architecture that will develop into deep, or shallow, roots
for learning, health, and lifelong success. By age 5, a child’s
brain reaches 85% of its adult capacity, developing 700
neural connections every second.
“Working together, we can build a better community by supporting high-quality early childhood
education programs for children from birth through age five. Investing in high quality early childhood
services that support the community’s youngest children and their families’ yields a 9:1 return on
investment through reduced remediation, higher graduation rates, and higher lifetime earnings.
Additionally early childhood programs ensure an estimated 47,925 families in NWA are able to work
each day. Collaboration is key to making our community the best it can be,” said Michelle Barnes,
Executive Director of Helen R. Walton Children’s Enrichment Center.
“High quality childhood education is crucial to the vitality of our community, and we’re proud to have
been invited to share a little about Tyson Foods with the children at the Helen Walton Children’s
Enrichment Center,” Annetta Young, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility for Tyson Foods.
Helen R. Walton Children’s Enrichment Center has been celebrating Arkansas Children’s Week for over
25 years. Please contact Kristen Herbert or Sunny Lane at 479-273-3552 to get more information, learn
about sponsorship opportunities, or reconnect with the Center.
About Helen R. Walton Children’s Enrichment Center
Children are our first priority at the Helen R. Walton Children’s Enrichment Center; our doors opened in
1982. We are a trusted name in both the community and the early childhood industry. Our commitment
is to provide families access to the highest quality early childhood education and care. The Center
reaches beyond our families served and collaborates with early childhood programs throughout
Northwest Arkansas. Visit us at www.hwcec.org and on Facebook.
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