The Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits (OKCNP) will host the 2021 Oklahoma Nonprofit Excellence (ONE) Awards on April 24, 2021, in Tulsa, with limited attendance. The event will be livestreamed on OKCNP’s website as well. Leading up to the event, we are celebrating the 21 Oklahoma nonprofit finalists in seven categories. Rainbow Fleet is a finalist in the Education category.

“Oklahoma is home to so many outstanding nonprofits, it is an incredible honor to be recognized among them as a ONE Awards finalist,’ said Carrie Williams, executive director, Rainbow Fleet. “It affirms our ongoing work to support Oklahoma childcare providers, children and families.”

Rainbow Fleet was founded in 1972 from the belief that best early childhood teaching methods could be exported and incorporated into child care programs by providing child care professionals with resources and materials that would support appropriate environments for young children. From this concept came their mission to provide innovative, educational programs and services that benefit the lives of children, families and child care professionals.

Each year, they serve 67,000 children, families and child care professionals in Oklahoma and Cleveland counties by assisting families in locating quality, licensed child care options, including their core program that serves children 0-to-6 years-of-age by helping them find licensed child care options. They also offer training and mentoring for child care professionals.

“Rainbow Fleet was instrumental in helping St. Luke’s Edmond when they first opened with classroom arrangement and teacher training,” said Gabrielle Moon, executive director, St. Luke’s Children’s Center, First Kid’s Learning Center and Trinity Child Development Center. “The staff spend long hours with our teachers and we are so grateful to them for the long lasting benefits that both children and staff have received.”

In addition to their childcare placement and training services, Rainbow Fleet is a sponsoring organization of the USDA’s Child and Adult Care Food Program, providing support for 145 family child care home providers and the children they serve. Their programs also include respite care to military families who have children with special needs.

Rainbow Fleet recently opened the Rainbow Fleet Early Education Center, which provides high quality child care and development programming to 108 children, ages 6 weeks through 4 years, in the Oklahoma City area.

“Rainbow Fleet has been a tremendous partner in working to transform early childhood in the State of Oklahoma,” said Justin B. Brown, secretary, Human Services and Childhood Initiatives, and director, Department of Human Services. “Utilizing deep partnerships, innovative ideas and sound practices, they remain ever focused on their mission to equip children, families and professionals with the tools and skills they need to serve their communities.  Rainbow Fleet is a critical component to our state’s collaborative effort to revolutionize early childhood.”

To learn more about Rainbow Fleet visit their website: https://www.rainbowfleet.org/.

The ONE Awards is dedicated to honoring the outstanding work of Oklahoma nonprofits statewide. The ONE Awards also serves as the primary fundraising event for OKCNP. Proceeds from the ONE Awards enable OKCNP to serve communities throughout Oklahoma.

To learn more about the OKCNP ONE Awards or to watch the event, visit: https://okcnp.org/page/one-awards.