Moore Women—A Giving Circle awards $34,000 grant to Northern Moore Family Resource Center

November 19, 2025

The Northern Moore Family Resource Center (NMFRC) received a $34,000 grant from Moore Women—A Giving Circle to support its HOPE Academy Preschool. This generous contribution will help make affordable, high-quality early childhood education accessible for children and families in northern Moore County.

This year, HOPE Academy Preschool celebrates a decade of serving children ages 2½ to 5 in a nurturing and enriching environment designed to prepare each child to thrive in kindergarten and beyond.

In addition to a strong educational foundation, HOPE Academy ensures children are cared for holistically. Students are served breakfast and lunch daily, and take part in field trips, special events, and unique hands-on experiences that broaden their learning and social development opportunities.

“Our HOPE Academy Preschool program has had a tremendous impact on school preparedness at Robbins Elementary School,” says Clare Ruggles, NMFRC Executive Director. “This significant grant from Moore Women–A Giving Circle helps ensure the long-term affordability and sustainability of our program. We are grateful that this group of women understands and values the important foundation that a robust early childhood education provides, so that children begin school ready to succeed and flourish.”

NMFRC was founded 30 years ago with the mission to encourage the development of strong families, healthy children, and caring communities by matching resources with needs in northern Moore County. Towards this end, NMFRC has two main areas of focus: supporting children in their education and working with the Town of Robbins to improve economic and community conditions.

In addition to the preschool program, NMFRC provides after-school support to students at Robbins Elementary and Elise Middle Schools, as well as a six-week summer program serving preschoolers through rising 8th graders.

HOPE Academy Preschool currently serves 53 students, the maximum capacity. 120 and 50 students, respectively, attend after-school programming at Robbins and Elise. Finally, the summer program serves over 200 children each year.

NMFRC continues to expand its programs to meet the needs of local families through education, health, and community development initiatives. This grant represents another important step toward ensuring every child in Northern Moore County has access to the strong start they deserve.

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