This year marks the 20-year Anniversary of MountainStar Family Relief Nursery (MountainStar) and celebrates their unique early childhood and family support services in Central Oregon. MountainStar started in April 2001 with a ribbon-cutting held at the Deschutes Children’s Foundation campus on NE Daggett Lane in Bend, and served 34 babies and toddlers in their first year. Now, MountainStar staff provide services in Bend, Madras, Prineville, Redmond and La Pine, and serve 300 young children and their families annually.
Over the past 20 years, MountainStar staff have worked with 5,000 children ages zero- to five-years-old, and engaged over 20,000 parents and family members in strength-based child abuse and neglect prevention programs. A key feature of their services are early childhood classes designed for children experiencing toxic stress at home and who are at-risk for abuse and neglect. MountainStar successfully keeps 98 percent of children in their program safe from confirmed cases of abuse and neglect.
To celebrate their anniversary and recognize the profound impact on local babies and toddlers, an anonymous couple has provided a $5,000 matching gift recognizing the 5,000 children served over the last 20 years. “This matching gift comes from a local couple who has supported MountainStar families since 2005,” says Staley Micken, development director. “Their investment reflects the commitment of so many in our community that believe every child deserves the best start possible.”
Donations at any level are eligible for this match. The matching gift is available through March 31.
Throughout 2021, MountainStar will engage its supporters to share their stories and hopes for the children and families served through its program. MountainStar’s 20th Anniversary is a testament to the dedication of Central Oregonians in preventing child abuse and ensuring that its children are supported in their emotional, physical and intellectual development. “I sincerely appreciate the generosity of our community and the commitment to child abuse prevention,” says Tim Rusk, executive director. “Supporting vulnerable families and working with the dedicated early learning professionals across our community has been my personal honor as executive director of MountainStar for the last nineteen years. I am excited to celebrate what we have accomplished together, but am even more excited about where we go from here, because as we all know, when it comes to early childhood — every day counts, and everyone matters.”
If you would like to celebrate with MountainStar by sharing a story or sending a message, please contact Kevin Donor at development@mtstar.org.
