Investing Early Pays Off: Vanguard and CHOP

Vanguard, one of the world’s largest investment companies, headquartered just outside Philadelphia, has been a partner of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) for many years. In the past two years, Vanguard has vastly increased its giving to CHOP through its new signature charitable initiative, the Strong Start for Kids Program. Since the program’s inception in 2015, Vanguard has given more than $3 million.

The financial advice Vanguard gives to clients is mirrored in its charitable initiatives — investing early pays off. The Strong Start for Kids Program helps prepare children for kindergarten through programs that nurture learning, physical well-being, and the development of social, emotional, cognitive and language skills. However, Vanguard recognizes that children living in poverty can be at a major disadvantage. Three CHOP programs the company supports are working to close this opportunity gap:

• Reach Out and Read — Implemented in many of CHOP’s primary care practices, this national literacy program that encourages families to read aloud together has significantly expanded with support from Vanguard.
• Digital Book Reading Study — This study is comparing the language development of infants who are read e-books versus physical books.
• Reducing Classroom Behavioral Problems — This research is evaluating the expulsions and suspensions of toddlers and young children in child care centers.

“Vanguard supports CHOP because it is a world-class organization with whom we share a deep commitment to the health, development and well-being of children,” says Carra Cote-Ackah, Executive Director of Vanguard Community Stewardship. “The initiatives that we partner on leverage many of CHOP’s assets to drive positive outcomes for kids. We’re fortunate to have CHOP in our backyard and as a strategic community partner.”

Children’s Hospital is extremely grateful to Vanguard, its crew of employees, and the Strong Start for Kids Program for this historic partnership.