• Landscaping- 4 trees @$600 a piece-$2400
• Landscaping-Flagpole area update-$2400
• Building updates-Floor strip/was-$2785.50

CLASSROOM SUPPLY LIST:

Multiples of items listed below.  We have 32 children enrolled in the school age class.

• Assorted outside balls-multiples of each of the following.
  • Soccer balls
  • Footballs
  • Basketballs
  • Playground balls

• Boomerangs
• Nerf Vortex Acro Howler Neon Foam Football
• Velcro Toss-n-catch ball sets
• Plastic horse shoe set
• Wiffle ball/bat sets
• Large trucks/cars to push around on playground
• Tug-o-war rope
• Sack race sacks
• Jumbo four to score 4 in a row game
• Outdoor bean bag toss game
• Giant tic tac toe game with LED light
• Matchbox cars and motorcycles

CRAFT SUPPLIES: 

• Construction paper
• Stickers
• Stencils
• Tiletown Jurrasic World Gate Escape Magnetic Tiles
• Musical instrument sets
• Sensory autistic spinning chair
• Magnetic tiles
• Busy board wooden sensory table
• Schylling NeeDoh Gummy bear-sensory fidget toy
• Demilong squishy sensory toys
• SuperZ outlet liquid motion bubbler for sensory play
• Aukit 550 piece fidget toys for stress relief, sensory, autism, weak magnetic putty
• Silicone sensory activity cube
• Minecraft magnetic blocks

Fred opened first facility in St. Louis. He built a childcare center next door to meet the needs of his workforce and named it after his mother. Due to the success of that concept, when he opened his manufacturing plant in Cuba and recognized that his employees had similar childcare needs to those of his St. Louis staff, he decided to see what others thought about opening a childcare establishment that doubled as an early education program. In January 2001, a survey was conducted among various businesses. The results established that others saw the same need as Fred Epstein. 

Another Crawford County citizen group had aspirations to build a recreation center. Joining forces, the two agreed it would be best to focus on the childcare center as Phase 1 and the recreational center as Phase II. In October 2001, the Crawford County Foundation, Inc. or CCF, a not-for-profit organization, was formed. Rachel Wallis Andreasson served as its first Board President. 

In 2002, the organization secured $350,000 worth of Neighborhood Assistance Tax Credits (NAP) and the fundraising began. CCF raised over $800,000.00 in additional monies to put toward building a 7,500 square foot state of the art childcare center. By October of that same year, plans were presented to the City of Cuba for building a childcare facility and recreational center at Tangle Creek Park. The vote was approved. 

In March 2003, after submitting final architect plans, the city council rescinded the vote. The CCF Board then worked to secure another site. Fortunately, local residents, Kim and Dennis Roedemeier, told a board member that CCF could look at some of their property adjacent to Hood Park. After much discussion, the Roedemeier’s donated 2.6 acres to CCF and construction on the childcare center began. 

The ribbon cutting for All Aboard Learning Center (“AALC”) took place on October 1, 2004. The first children crossed the threshold to begin their early education on October 18, 2004. 

AALC became accredited through the Missouri Accreditation Association on February 24, 2011, and is the only accredited facility in Crawford or Phelps County providing care for infants and toddlers, and the only year-round accredited facility for preschool age children. Further, AALC is an Advanced Eat Smart/Move Smart Certified Center, a designation that promotes optimal nutritional and physical activity policies within the center.

Research shows the importance of an effective early education program in a child’s development and success later in life. AALC’s goal is to provide safe, effective, and evidence-based early education to young children so they are “kindergarten ready” once they enter the public school system.  In Cuba, each year 20% of children entering Kindergarten are not deemed to be “ready.” Yet, Crawford County RII school district compliments AALC graduates as consistently “being kindergarten ready.”

Today, All Aboard Learning Center is licensed to serve over 100 children ranging from infants to school age. It falls under the Crawford County Foundation (CCF) 501c3 status. Both the CCF Board and the AALC Parent Board are 100% volunteer-led. 

The CCF board and our members are proud we could help bring quality childcare to our community. When you drive by or visit AALC today, hearing the squeals and laughter of our children should offer a great reminder that this important work is impacting tomorrow’s citizens and leaders.

AALC is funded through a mix of tuition and donations. Given Crawford County is a low-income community, AALC intentionally sets tuition rates at a level that is affordable for county residents. The resulting shortfall in operating needs is filled by community donations. We would love your consideration of a gift that would sustain this model for the future!

• AALC Mission – To provide a safe, enriching environment for all children, families and staff with a growth mindset where each child’s social-emotional, character and cognitive development is our priority. 
• AALC Vision – To provide access to the best care for infant/toddler, preschool and school-age children, for the best outcomes

During his second tour in Vietnam, in November 1968, Clifford T. Mullen suffered life-threatening burns. Cliff spent his dying days in Japan, and in response, the U.S. military provided the funds for his mother to fly overseas so she could sit at his bedside during his last days. However, there was no money for his father Henry to accompany her. 

But true to their nature, the citizens of Cuba showed their compassion and raised almost $1,000 within a week in the month of December. They were able to send Henry to Japan, so he could join his wife in saying goodbye to their son. 

In 2007, Cliff’s brothers, Delbert and Phil, decided they wanted to commemorate their brother’s sacrifice and those like him, who equally served and/or gave their lives for their country. And they wanted to do it while their mother, who was in her 90s at the time, was alive to see it. Within two years, with a Crawford County Foundation grant and support of its members and others in the community, the Cuba War Memorial was unveiled. 

Located at 308 North Smith Street, Cuba, MO, the stunning red granite sculpture in the shape of a pyramid with a flying eagle on top was erected in 2008, just in time for a Veteran’s Day dedication. It memorializes those who served and died for our nation during World War I, World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam War, Lebanon-Grenada War, Panama Conflict, Persian Gulf War, and Afghanistan-Iran War. 

On the Cuba War Memorial’s dedication day, local and state officials gave tribute, an honor guard placed a wreath on the memorial while a bagpiper played in the background, and the heads of many bowed in respect. In the crowd, 97-year-old Florence Mullen stood by her son Delbert. And at the end of the formal ceremony, like several others, she reverently reached out to touch the stone where the names of six of her seven sons’ names were etched, her fingers tracing the letters. 

Today, people from all over visit the memorial and recognize those who gave for our greater good. It is in that spirit of giving that CCF continues to pour into our county and communities. 

Kathy approached the Crawford County Foundation board and asked them to spearhead a Wildcat Field of Pride project due to their past, successful “track record” in building AALC and helping facilitate the Cuba War Memorial. After an initial investigation, it was determined that the project was desperately needed. The existing Cuba school track was in such a state of disrepair that the track teams could no longer host their own events or meets. 

Project construction took two years, and the track restoration was completed in 2010. Once it was finished, CCF was pleased to discover it not only served the school track program, and enhanced the football field, but it also contributed to the greater community. Today, many people of all ages in Cuba use the grounds to improve their overall health and wellness by walking and/or running on a surface that is more stable, safe, and comfortable, which means more are confidently taking better care of themselves. And isn’t investing in all generations a great way to spend your life (and your money)? At CCF, we sure think it is!