Coughlan Companies Recognizes the Importance of Early Childhood Development with $27,500 Grant to Baby's Space

MANKATO, MN, June 09, 2011 (Press-News.org) Coughlan Companies, Inc., the parent company of Capstone and Mankato Kasota Stone, Inc., is awarding a $27,500 grant to Minneapolis-based Baby's Space, a nonprofit linking quality childcare and education to family services and parent education. The grant will be presented to Baby's Space Founder and President Dr. Terrie Rose at the Social Venture Partners Engaged Philanthropy Conference on June 16 at the Minneapolis Hyatt Regency.

"Coughlan Companies and Baby's Space share the common belief that early childhood development is one of the most important factors in a child's future success," said Lisa Hanson, Coughlan Companies Director of Corporate Giving. "We're very proud to be able to help support this organization and the vital work they are doing to provide babies and toddlers with a strong start to a better life. We recognize that healthy communities depend on involved citizens, organizations, and corporate partners for momentum and we are extremely privileged to be a part of this process."

Baby's Space is a nonprofit that serves as a community center and safe haven for young children in low-income families. The center is also home to Tatanka Academy, Minnesota's first
first public, year-around pre-K-3rd grade school devoted to reaching children in poverty. Baby's Space combines childhood education and programming with family services to give children the tools they need to be successful in life.

Baby's Space plans to use a portion of the grant to support one child to attend its childcare program or Tatanka Academy for one academic year. The grant will also be used for the nonprofit's Family Literacy Nights, monthly meetings where Baby's Space families come together as a community and read with their children. Coughlan Companies will supply all of the books for Family Literacy Nights and will give each child in attendance a book to take home. In addition, Coughlan Companies employees will also share their time and talent by volunteering at Family Literacy Nights.

Coughlan Companies strives to be recognized as a community leader by supporting literacy programs, expanding educational opportunities and caring for the environment. In 2010, the company supported more than 250 organizations' initiatives through book donations, sponsorships, scholarships and employee volunteer time. Coughlan Companies has offices in Mankato and Bloomington, Minn., Chicago, Ill., and Oxford, England.

About Baby's Space
Baby's Space responds to the cultures, values, and needs of local families by linking quality childcare and education to family services and parent education. Beginning as a top-quality childcare site, Baby's Space offers year-around child and family services from pregnancy to third grade, including year-round, full-day childcare and year-round education through Tatanka Academy, a contract school within the Minneapolis Public School District. Tatanka Academy is the first public, year-around pre-K-3rd grade school in Minnesota devoted to reaching children in poverty. In 2009 and 2010, all of Tatanka Academy's kindergarten students—100 percent of whom have attended Baby's Space since birth—passed the Minneapolis post-kindergarten assessment. Baby's Space also serves as a community-service site for students from area schools, youth groups, and colleges.

About Coughlan Companies, Inc.
Minnesota-based Coughlan Companies, Inc. (CCI) is the holding company for Capstone and Mankato-Kasota Stone, Inc. Capstone is a leading publisher of children's books and digital products and services, offering everything from nonfiction, fiction, and picture books to interactive books, audio books, and literacy programs. Imprints and divisions include Capstone Press, Compass Point Books, Heinemann-Raintree, Picture Window Books, Stone Arch Books, and Capstone Digital. Visit http://www.CapstonePub.com for more information. Mankato Kasota Stone, Inc. quarries and fabricates dolomitic limestone in southern Minnesota, providing crafted custom stone products for commercial and residential use. Visit http://www.MankatoKasotaStone.com for more information.