Partners for Children & Families, Inc. has been awarded a $29,760 grant from Moore Women – A Giving Circle to fund six NC Pre-K slots at Westmoore Elementary School, expanding access to high-quality early education for children in northern Moore County.
The North Carolina Pre-Kindergarten (NC Pre-K) program is a state-funded initiative designed to prepare eligible four-year-olds for success in kindergarten and beyond. Partners for Children & Families assumed administration of the NC Pre-K program in Moore County this fall, working in close cooperation with Moore County Schools to ensure that eligible children across the county have access to quality Pre-K classrooms.
Leading the transition is Dr. Judy Heffner, who joined Partners for Children & Families this summer as the organization’s NC Pre-K Program Coordinator. Dr. Heffner brings years of experience managing the program on behalf of Moore County Schools, providing valuable continuity and leadership as the partnership evolves.
Partners for Children & Families is focused on expanding the number of NC Pre-K slots in Moore County, which currently has one of the lowest numbers of allocated NC Pre-K slots in the state on a per-capita basis. In January 2026, the organization will further increase access by adding 17 additional NC Pre-K seats at the HOPE Academy in Robbins, in cooperation with the Northern Moore Family Resource Center. This expansion is made possible through funding available from the North Carolina Partnership for Children.
“Expanding NC Pre-K access in Moore County is a top priority for our organization,” said Stuart Mills, Executive Director for Partners for Children & Families. “This generous grant from Moore Women – A Giving Circle directly supports children and families in our rural communities and helps ensure that every child, regardless of zip code, enters kindergarten ready to learn.”
Each funded Pre-K slot represents a full year of tuition-free, developmentally appropriate instruction led by licensed teachers. The NC Pre-K curriculum focuses on early literacy, math readiness, social-emotional growth, and family engagement, which are critical components of school readiness.
“We are deeply grateful to Moore Women – A Giving Circle for their continued partnership and belief in the power of early childhood education,” added Julia Latham, Development Director for Partners for Children & Families. “Their investment strengthens the foundation of our community and creates lasting opportunities for Moore County’s youngest learners.”
To learn more about NC Pre-K eligibility and enrollment, visit www.pfcfmc.org/ncprek
Northern Moore Family Resources Center/Hope Academy Preschool, The Arc of Moore County and Friends of the Moore County Library System also received awards from Moore Women – A Giving Circle to support their programs that benefit preschool children.
For Moore news delivered straight to your inbox, please click here to sign up for the free Sandhills Sentinel e-newsletter.
Follow Sandhills Sentinel: Facebook | X | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | Threads | Newsletter
Article contributed by Partners for Children and Families, Inc.
