Inspired by our belief that positive early experiences lay the foundation for future learning, the Foundation has maintained a focus on early care and education since its founding in 1980. Mickey Segal’s passionate belief that all children be given the opportunity to reach their potential inspired our work. For over 25 years of grantmaking, we chose to pay special attention to the early years, 0-5, as a unique time to make a life-long-impact.  In recent years the Foundation funded work to build sustainable systems that provide access to high quality early learning experiences for all children. We made grants with a national and state focus to promote  systemic change.

The Foundation is proud of the work of its grantee partners over the course of its history and remains committed to supporting young children and their families, with a special focus on vulnerable children.  The grantmaking process and strategies are changing, however, to adapt to a different fiscal environment and shifts within the Foundation.

The Foundation is moving to operating as a family-initiated and family-directed philanthropy and is only accepting a few invited proposals during this period of transition.  The Board continues to hold true to the core values and ideals that have guided our grantmaking throughout the years while the Foundation moves to a new chapter in its work.