Families First in Cabarrus County

We’re so grateful to the Greater Cabarrus Foundation and the William Coltrane & Norma Craft Cannon Charitable Trust for investing in Cabarrus County families and early childhood education.

This funding helps Families First strengthen and preserve home-based child care across Cabarrus County, protecting trusted care that working families rely on every day while also supporting stronger families, workforce stability, and greater opportunity for children across our community.

Thank you for believing in Cabarrus County children, families, and providers!

32 Nonprofits Awarded $385,000 in Grants Through William Coltrane and Norma Craft Cannon Charitable Trust — Greater Cabarrus Foundation The Greater Cabarrus Foundation announces $385,000 in grants awarded through the William Coltrane and Norma Craft Cannon Charitable Trust to support 32 nonprofit organizations serving Cabarrus County.

The Blue Cross NC Foundation is celebrating 25 years of impact across North Carolina!

We’re proud to be part of this spotlight on youth mental health. Across our HBCC networks, families and providers have consistently named mental health as a top need for children and caregivers.

This work matters because early, trusted support can change the path for a child, a family, and the providers who care for them.

Learn more: https://www.bcbsncfoundation.org/strengthening-youth-mental-health-across-north-carolina/

This year, we’re not only celebrating 58 children graduating into Kindergarten…

We’re also celebrating two incredible educators, Daisy and Camila, who are graduating with their Bachelor’s degrees in Early Childhood Education. 🎓

What makes this moment so special is that both of them began their college journey after joining Families First. From that very first class toward their associate degree to now earning their bachelor’s, they have shown what commitment, perseverance, and heart really look like.

They worked full time.
They went to school.
They kept showing up for children, families, and their own dreams.

And both are first-generation college graduates. 💜

Daisy and Camila, we are so proud of you. Thank you for your dedication to teaching, learning, and growing. Your journey inspires all of us, and your future students are so lucky to have you.

Congratulations! 🎉

“Inside the home, they are community builders. Outside the home, they are often alone.” (Dominique Edouard)

Honored to present at the Conference alongside Dominique Edouard, advocating for home-based childcare providers, collaboration, and stronger community support.

Breaking - Seed to harvest = learning in action. 🌱
(yes they eat their harvesting!)

This is more than picking radishes from the garden. Our preschoolers are building kindergarten-readiness skills through real, hands-on discovery.

- Little hands digging, pulling, and exploring 🌿

- Science: observing roots, leaves, soil, and plant growth

- Math: counting, comparing, sorting, and noticing patterns

- Language: asking questions and learning words like root, stem, harvest, and sprout

- Fine motor skills: pinching, pulling, holding, and caring

- Social-emotional learning: taking turns, working together, and celebrating discoveries

This is the beauty of preschool: meaningful experiences that connect children to nature, food, friendship, and learning.

Little hands. Big thinking. Growing minds. ❤️

St James Lutheran Church Feeding Kannapolis Hunger

This year, our NC Pre-K students have been discovering and coloring things that grow 🌼🍅🥕 These fun, hands-on learning experiences help nurture their creativity, curiosity, and Kindergarten readiness.

If you are looking for Immersion NC Pre-K, you can begin the preschool application process and choose your preferred location, including St. James Lutheran Church or our Central location. Learn more on the Families First preschool applications page. https://familiesfirstcc.org/immersion-preschools/preschool-applications/

So much to celebrate this St. Patrick’s Day at Cabarrus Bilingual Preschool St James Lutheran Church! 💚

We are proud to be a multicultural community where every language, culture, and background is valued—because learning to respect and appreciate differences early helps children grow into compassionate, confident individuals for life.

A special shoutout to this incredible team (and our extended team at our second location!) who stepped up to welcome 18 additional NC Pre-K students from February through May—no small task, and one they’ve embraced with heart and dedication.

We are grateful for the passion, teamwork, and commitment that make our school such a special place. 💚