FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors (AP/OD) has received a $2.5 million gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. AP/OD is dedicated to developing parent engagement and leadership approaches with families supporting them to build  a strong start in life through early childhood development programs, advocacy and family resources.

"This investment will help us continue to honor and support parents and caregivers as leaders, while expanding our proven models, which have  served over 100,000 families across the U.S.," said Adrián Pedroza, Executive Director of AP/OD. "We believe that strong family advocacy creates better educational and overall wellbeing outcomes for children, and this grant will enable us to elevate the voices of parents/caregivers, and reach even more families and communities in need."

The 18.6 million Latino children in the U.S. make up over a quarter of the nation’s total child population. However, Latino children experience a majority of the recent negative pandemic effects of child care shortages, school closures, and child poverty.  AP/OD believes that parents/caregivers have the solutions to lead the way for change. In the recent 2023 Latino Family Report, parents/caregivers of young children outline the opportunities for community-level change including specific policies. 

AP/OD's evidence-based parent leadership curriculum provides parents/caregivers with the tools, strategies, and confidence they need to become their child's first and most important teacher. With the support of partner organizations and foundations, AP/OD helps parents/caregivers navigate the education system and advocate for their children's needs. The program includes resources and support in reading, math, technology, and health, with a focus on the unique needs of each family.

"This gift from Ms. Scott will help us continue to innovate and expand our impact so that we can build new solutions with families across the country, and we are deeply grateful for this support."

The AP/OD approach uses multi-generation approaches, so that parents/caregivers become confident advocates for their children and their futures. With the Hispanic electorate set to double by 2030, according to the Pew Research Center, AP/OD sets parents/caregivers on a path to advocate for the needs of themselves and their children. As a result of AP/OD programs, 81% of parents become more involved in their childrens’ school, 50% start participating in advocacy issues, and 31% testify at local government meetings. 

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About Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors:
Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors (AP/OD) is a nonprofit  dedicated to creating parent leadership approaches to assist families in building a strong early childhood foundation for their overall wellbeing and healthy development. The evidence-based program has served over 100,000 families in more than 500 cities, creating stronger parent advocates and better education outcomes for children across the U.S. Find out more at ap-od.org. Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors is a fiscally sponsored project of Tides Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.