“There is no excuse for our society’s not putting this scientific knowledge into practical use…we must remember--the first few months of life are not a rehearsal.  This is the real show.”
--Irving B. Harris

Founded in 1982 in Chicago, Illinois, as a partnership between private donors and the state of Illinois, the Ounce of Prevention Fund strives to give children who are born into poverty a chance for success in school and in life.  Decades of research in neuroscience, child development, crime prevention, and economics confirm that learning begins well before kindergarten, and that investing in children during their earliest weeks, months, and years produces the greatest returns to families and to society.

The Ounce’s late founder, the legendary philanthropist and businessman, Irving B. Harris, believed in working to improve the odds for young children with efforts on multiple fronts.  This philosophy continues to guide us today.  

Through teams of experts in four areas, we: 

•Provide direct services for at-risk children from birth to age five and for their families,

 •Train early childhood professionals across the state who work with infants and toddlers,

 •Research what works and continuously incorporate that knowledge into programs, and

 •Advocate for sound public policies and sustained funding streams with bipartisan support so that more young children have access to experiences that enhance their early development.

At our Educare Center on Chicago’s south side, we broaden our impact by applying research-based strategies for children in great need.

Since 2001, we have partnered with philanthropists and community leaders in five states to help build Educare Centers in their communities. All of these centers, with more to come, make up what is now known as the Bounce Learning Network. Thus we have expanded the pool of national allies for high-quality care for young children growing up in poverty, helping leaders in other states become even stronger early childhood champions.

Read more about our work and key issues in the early childhood field by visiting our publications page, or view video clips of speakers at our “It’s Good Business to Invest in Young Children” Luncheon.