Narberth-based Wonderspring’s CEO Doing the Right Thing for Kids Amid Pandemic

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Wonderspring Early Education kids w blocks
Image via Wonderspring Early Education.

Zakiyyah Boone, CEO of Narberth-based Wonderspring Early Education, is determined to do the right thing for kids as the childcare industry finds itself at a pandemic-induced crossroads, writes J.F. Pirro for the Main Line Today.

Wonderspring Early Education kids with blocks
Images via Wonderspring Early Education.

Wonderspring is a nonprofit organization providing tuition-free learning programs for local families.

But with the prolonged shift to stay-at-home, the services offered by the organization’s five centers and five additional before-school and after-school care sites are not in as high demand. In fact, enrollment has been cut in half.

However, Boone believes that the organization’s newest location in West Philadelphia has huge potential.

The four-story building is a residential, community health, and retail hub that can accommodate 120 children.

“It was built with the intention of being part of something bigger,” said Boone.

Wonderspring’s operations rely on philanthropic gifts, service fees from private-pay families, and some federal funding.

It started in Ambler in 1964 and has since expanded to Norristown, Pottstown, Narberth, and Wynnewood.

In January 2020, the nonprofit was rebranded from Montgomery Early Learning Centers to Wonderspring.

“Wonder is what we do,” said Boone. “Young children learn by exploring their curiosity, and we work to cultivate that curiosity.”

Read more about Wonderspring in Main Line Today.

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