Rochester Area Foundation To Hold First Steps Kickoff Luncheon

First Steps, a kindergarten readiness initiative of the Rochester Area Foundation, will hold a fall kickoff luncheon Sept. 6 at 11:30 a.m. at The Kahler Grand Hotel in downtown Rochester.

The foundation is spearheading the First Steps initiative, a public-private economic development collaborative that is dedicated to assuring that children are ready for school when they enter kindergarten. In Rochester, six out of 10 children are not fully prepared for the first day of kindergarten.

Art Rolnick, an economist and senior vice president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, will talk about the importance of early childhood development at the luncheon. Rolnick has done extensive research into the economics of early childhood programs. He has found that investments in early childhood development programs provide extraordinary returns when compared with investments in the public and private sectors: as high as 18 percent per year. Rolnick's speech will focus on why kindergarten readiness is a wise investment with high returns for the Rochester area.

Cost of the luncheon event is $10 at the door. To reserve space, call First Steps at 507.282.1027 or e-mail RSVP@FirstSteps.us.

For more information about First Steps, visit the program's Web site.

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