Building up kids. Backing up families. Since 1965. Growing Futures is an early education center providing a Head Start for children and families.
03/06/2026
One mission. Sixty years of impact. Countless bright futures ahead. 🌹✨ Justin is proud to ride for Growing Futures at Run for the Roses continuing our community’s investment in early childhood success! Support Justin at growingfutures.org/justin
03/05/2026
Growing Futures is in the news this morning! 📰
Thank you to our friends at the Johnson County Post, especially our new friend, reporter Kaylie McLaughlin, for featuring our incredible community, shining a light on 60 years of Head Start and the amazing families who have been a part of this journey.
We are incredibly grateful to our dear friend, Rhianna Schuetz, for being a part of this story. You may recognize her as our keynote speaker from Harvesting Hope last year. Years later, she is still a tremendous advocate for the work happening every day at Growing Futures. It has been an honor to watch her son Kohen become a top reader and gifted student in the Shawnee Mission School District. That's the power of what happens when a child gets a strong, stable start. 💛
As we celebrate 60 years, we're reminded that the need is greater than ever, with an estimated 4,000 children in Johnson County qualifying for Head Start, but only about 400 being currently served. We know that when kids start strong, they grow strong.
Read the full story below and consider joining our community of advocates who are investing right here, right now. 🌱
How Growing Futures gave one Johnson County family a fresh start Growing Futures in Overland Park is one of the original Head Start programs, and over the past 60 years, has served thousands of families.
03/04/2026
If you ask Larry Lewis Jr. what sets the organization apart, he won’t start with the curriculum or classrooms.
He starts with families.
🗞️ https://www.thepitchkc.com/early-education-big-impact-inside-growing-futures-60-year-journey/
03/03/2026
Ethan Price is riding for something bigger than the finish line. He’s helping Growing Futures open more doors to early learning, family support, and brighter futures for kids in our community. 💛
Support his mission at our Kentucky Derby Fundraiser! Visit growingfutures.org/ethan
03/02/2026
Congratulations to our Executive Director, Larry Lewis Jr., for being awarded the Nonprofit Connect: Network. Learn. Grow. Nonprofit Catalyst Executive!
As Kansas City's most prestigious tribute to nonprofit leadership and impact, this awards ceremony shines a spotlight on those who make the nonprofit community thrive.
Off to the Races! 🏇💐
The countdown to Derby Day is on, and our 11 jockeys are ready to ride! We’re thrilled to introduce the spirited contenders leading this year’s Run for the Roses — each bringing their own passion, energy, and heart to the race.
Their dedication helps make high-quality early education possible for children and families in our community.
Grab your hats, place your bets, and join us for an unforgettable evening at Hallbrook Country Club starting at 4:30pm! 🌹✨
Tickets available now: growingfutures.org/derby
Hats on. Hearts in. 💛
We’re thrilled to announce our Grand Marshals for this year’s Run for the Roses! Please join us in celebrating Kim & Jess Adams, Bridgette & Marc Shaffer, and Kelly & Casey McBride whose dedication and generosity embody the spirit of this event.
Their leadership helps make high-quality early education possible for children and families in our community a reality.
With their hearts fully in, we invite you to put your hats on and join us for an unforgettable evening at Hallbrook Country Club starting at 4:30pm!
🎩 Learn more or get your tickets: growingfutures.org/derby
02/18/2026
We're proud to introduce a refreshed brand identity that reflects our growth and unwavering commitment to early childhood education. The new look honors 60 years of proven impact in Johnson County while embracing a fresh visual approach that speaks to both our experience and forward-focused mission.
Since 1965, we have been a reliable partner to families in Johnson County, helping children build strong beginnings and standing with families every step of the way.
"Our mission hasn't changed—we're still here to build up kids and back up families, just like we have been for six decades," said Larry Lewis, Executive Director at Growing Futures. "But we've grown and evolved, and our brand needed to reflect that. This refresh honors where we've been while celebrating where we're going."
Head over to our website to see our full rebrand come to life: https://www.growingfutureseec.org/
Thank you for supporting us, so that we can better support our children and families.
..
Nos enorgullece presentar una nueva identidad de marca que refleja nuestro crecimiento y nuestro compromiso inquebrantable con la educación temprana. Esta nueva imagen honra 60 años de impacto comprobado en el condado de Johnson, mientras adopta un enfoque visual fresco que representa tanto nuestra experiencia como nuestra misión orientada al futuro.
Desde 1965, hemos sido un socio confiable para las familias del condado de Johnson, ayudando a los niños a construir bases sólidas y acompañando a las familias en cada paso del camino.
“Nuestra misión no ha cambiado: seguimos aquí para fortalecer a los niños y respaldar a las familias, tal como lo hemos hecho durante seis décadas”, dijo Larry Lewis, Director Ejecutivo de Growing Futures. “Pero hemos crecido y evolucionado, y nuestra marca necesitaba reflejarlo. Esta renovación honra de dónde venimos mientras celebra hacia dónde vamos.”
Visita nuestro sitio web para ver el relanzamiento completo de nuestra marca: https://www.growingfutureseec.org/
Gracias por apoyarnos, para que podamos seguir apoyando mejor a nuestros niños y familias.
02/09/2026
Our parents are strengthening their financial literacy this year thanks to the help of Mainstreet Credit Union.
Thank you Mainstreet Credit Union for hosting our February Parent Committee this past Thursday. Our parents left with financial knowledge that will help them feel more confident tackling the everyday challenges that pop up regarding finances.
..
Nuestros padres están fortaleciendo su educación financiera este año gracias al apoyo de Mainstreet Credit Union.
Gracias a Mainstreet Credit Union por organizar nuestro Comité de Padres de febrero el pasado jueves. Nuestros padres se marcharon con conocimientos financieros que les ayudarán a sentirse más seguros al enfrentar los desafíos cotidianos que surgen en torno a las finanzas.
02/02/2026
Thank you PNC for celebrating another year of future leaders! Today, our soon-to-be Kindergarteners created handprints that will live on in the PNC Grow Up Great Gallery at the Kauffman Center of Performing Arts.
Introduced in 2018, our education center was a pioneer in creating a memorable art experience in an effort to inspire great futures for local children.
Located on Level 2 of the Kauffman Center, this gallery is open for 90 minutes before any performance for ticket holders. The gallery is open to the public during box office hours, 10am to 6pm, Monday through Friday.
..
¡Gracias PNC por celebrar otro año de futuros líderes! Hoy, nuestros futuros estudiantes de Kindergarten crearon huellas de manos que permanecerán en la Galería PNC Grow Up Great en el Kauffman Center of Performing Arts.
Inaugurado en 2018, nuestro centro educativo fue pionero en crear una experiencia artística memorable con el objetivo de inspirar grandes futuros para los niños locales.
Ubicada en el Nivel 2 del Kauffman Center, esta galería está abierta durante 90 minutos antes de cualquier presentación para los poseedores de boletos. La galería está abierta al público durante el horario de taquilla, de 10am a 6pm, de lunes a viernes.
Growing Futures Early Education Center, a Head Start for children and families, is a non-profit organization, providing quality early education opportunities and family support services for children in Johnson County, Kansas. Our Early Head Start and Head Start options are for children 0-5 and their families. Enrolled families also have access to a variety of comprehensive support services, including health and nutrition services, onsite play therapy, parent education, mental health, dental health, family advocacy, and family engagement opportunities. Our education program focuses on developing a child’s academic readiness, along with an emphasis on social and emotional development.
Growing Futures opened its doors in 1965 as a Head Start summer enrichment program for 17 preschool-aged children from low-income families, making us one of the original Head Start programs. Today, we serve nearly 250 low-income children and their families with Early Head Start and Head Start programs and we regularly maintain a wait list of more than 100 children.
Although our program has grown since 1965 to meet the increasing needs of Johnson County families, our funding has not kept pace with the demand for services. More than 32,500 Johnson County residents, or 5.6% of the population, lives below the federal poverty level with 3,119 of those residents being children, ages 0-5. Thousands more earn just enough to avoid the technical definition of poverty, which is $21,780 for a family of three. During the past decade, Johnson County's population grew by 20%, while the number of people living in poverty increased by 134%. Now, more than ever, our services are desperately needed.
Though we are partially funded by the federal government, for every $100.00 we receive from the federal government, we are required to raise an additional $25.00. That means to maintain our federal grant, we must come up with a non-federal match of over $415,000, annually, to remain in compliance with our federal funding. We rely heavily on support from our community partners, corporate sponsors, donors, local grants and our volunteers. There are so many ways to get involved with Growing Futures and we hope you will join us in our mission - to nurture children and strengthen families to enrich our community.
| Monday | 7am - 5:30pm |
| Tuesday | 7am - 5:30pm |
| Wednesday | 7am - 5:30pm |
| Thursday | 7am - 5:30pm |
| Friday | 7am - 5:30pm |