April 2026 Newsletter
The Sandbox: Turning Polling Data into Action.
In the latest edition of The Sandbox, Children’s Opportunity Alliance Executive Director Kimberly Rusnak shares the results of a recent poll of Montgomery County voters about their support for early care and education (ECE) investment. The message was clear: residents believe that investing in our children is critical to our County’s future.
We dig deeper into the data, share our insights, and outline actions you can take immediately to support ECE.
April is Month of the Young Child!
Join the Alliance for two special events in Montgomery County as we celebrate the importance of ECE this month!
Dine Out for Young Children
On Tuesday, April 14, local restaurants are participating in our annual Dine Out for Young Children. This event is an opportunity to support local businesses while promoting the benefits of ECE. Every bill at participating restaurants will benefit the Alliance.
Join us at one of the following restaurants:
MoCo’s Founding Farmers, open all day: 12505 Park Potomac Ave, Potomac, MD 20854
Ema Rossi Pizzeria, serving lunch and dinner: 5556 Norbeck Rd, Rockville, MD 20853
Frankly…Pizza!, serving dinner: 10417 Armory Ave, Kensington, MD 20895
Film Screening: Make a Circle
Join MDAEYC and GatherRound, in collaboration with the Alliance, for an unforgettable evening as we kick off the Maryland tour of the award-winning documentary, Make a Circle. This film explores how we can shape the future of ECE, and the event is an opportunity to connect with educators, families, advocates, and leaders from across Maryland.
After the screening, stick around for an engaging panel discussion with ECE educators and advocates, including Alliance Board Chair Tiffany Jones.The event is free, and Spanish captions will be provided. Please note that this event is adults-only.
Date: Thursday, April 16, 2026, 7 - 9 p.m.
Location: BlackRock Center for the Arts, 12901 Town Commons Dr, Germantown, MD 20874
A Breezy Thank You!
On Sunday, March 22, the Alliance kicked off the spring season with Breeze Thru the Trees! This 5K race and one-mile fun run brought together people from across the County in support of the Children’s Opportunity Alliance. Special thanks to the Ruppert family, Ruppert Companies, and Sophie Felts Floral for their generous support in organizing and hosting this event.