Stephen Rich’s Story

SCO Family of Services is proud to shine this month’s Donor Spotlight on Mr. Stephen Rich, Chairman, CEO and President of Mutual of America Financial Group, and a steadfast champion of our mission.

At our recent Inspiration Ball, we had the distinct honor of presenting Mr. Rich with the Corporate Leadership Award, recognizing not only his outstanding professional achievements but also his unwavering commitment to giving back. Under his leadership, Mutual of America continues to be a devoted partner of SCO Family of Services, offering decades of support that have helped shape brighter futures for the children, families, and communities we serve.

The values of compassion, responsibility, and community that Mr. Rich and his colleagues stand by are deeply aligned with our own. Mutual of America has long believed in the power of investing in people, and its dedication to social impact has left an indelible mark on our work. Whether through corporate philanthropy, strategic partnership, or personal advocacy, Mr. Rich and the company consistently go above and beyond to support SCO’s mission of helping New Yorkers build the foundation for lasting success.

We are beyond grateful for the leadership of Mr. Rich and the entire Mutual of America family. Their partnership exemplifies what’s possible when purpose and business unite in service to others.

Thank you, Mr. Rich, for being a true inspiration and for helping SCO carry forward a legacy of care, opportunity, and hope.

Nassau County Schools Facilities Association’s Story

For many years, the Nassau County Schools Facilities Association has stood beside SCO Family of Services as a steadfast partner, champion, and friend. Their generosity has touched countless young people across our programs, and their commitment continues to make a meaningful difference in the lives of the children and families we serve.

The Association’s support goes far beyond financial contributions—though those have been invaluable. Each holiday season, they brighten our youth’s lives with thoughtful gifts that remind them they are seen, valued, and cared for. These moments of joy matter deeply, especially for young people who may be facing challenges no child should have to navigate alone.

A special acknowledgment goes to former President Mr. Jon Simpkins, whose leadership and personal dedication have played a major role in sustaining this partnership. Jon has been a true advocate for SCO, always showing up, always lending a hand, and always ensuring that the Association’s support remains strong year after year. His kindness and consistency have left a lasting impact on our community.

To Jon and to every member of the Nassau County Schools Facilities Association: thank you. Your generosity, your heart, and your unwavering commitment have helped us create brighter futures for so many young people. We are deeply grateful for your partnership and look forward to continuing this meaningful relationship for many years to come.

Resources

 

Early Childhood Organizations – New York State & City

New York City Division of Early Childhood Education (NYC DECE)
https://schools.nyc.gov/Academics/EarlyChildhood/

New York Early Childhood Professional Development Institute  (CUNY PDI)
https://www.earlychildhoodnyc.org/

New York State Association for the Education of Young Children (NYSAEYC) 
Mission is to promote excellence in early care and education services for NYS children and families, through education, advocacy and the support of the profession.
https://www.nysaeyc.org/

New York Zero-to-Three (NYZTT)
New York regional network promoting the optimal development of young children, their families and their communities.
https://www.nyztt.org/

QualityStarsNYS
https://www.qualitystarsny.org/

New York State Early Childhood Advisory Council
Provides strategic direction and advice to the State of New York on early childhood issues.
https://www.nysecac.org/

Winning Beginning NY
An early care and learning coalition.
https://www.winningbeginningny.org/

ReadyNation
https://www.readynation.org/


Early Childhood Organizations – National

National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
The nation’s leading voice for high-quality early childhood education for children from birth to age 8.
https://www.naeyc.org/

Zero to Three
The national center for infants, toddler and their families.
https://www.zerotothree.org/

Teach for America
Teach For America is growing the movement of leaders who work to ensure that kids growing up in poverty get an excellent education.
https://www.teachforamerica.org/

Jumpstart
Jumpstart is the only national supplemental program that leverages the power of community and adult-child relationships to build the key language and literacy skills children need to take on the world.
https://www.jstart.org/

Child Care Exchange
Supporting early childhood education professionals worldwide in their efforts to craft thriving environments for children and adults.
https://www.childcareexchange.com/

The Future of Children
Providing research and analysis to promote effective policies and programs for children.
https://futureofchildren.org/

Center on the Developing Child
Mission is to drive science-based innovation that achieves breakthrough outcomes for children facing adversity.
https://developingchild.harvard.edu/

Foundation for Child Development
https://fcd-us.org/

New America EdCentral
https://www.edcentral.org/

McCormick Center on Early Childhood Leadership
https://cecl.nl.edu/

Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute
https://fpg.unc.edu/

Alliance for Early Success
https://www.earlysuccess.org/

Child Trends
https://www.childtrends.org/

Earlychildhood NEWS
Online resource for Teachers and Parents of children, from infants to age 8 years.
https://www.earlychildhoodnews.com/


Academic Institutions

New York Early Childhood Professional Development Institute (CUNY PDI)
https://www.earlychildhoodnyc.org/

Bank Street College of Education
https://bankstreet.edu/

Teachers College at Columbia University
https://www.tc.columbia.edu/

New York University Steinhardt School
https://steinhardt.nyu.edu/

Hunter College School of Education
https://www.hunter.cuny.edu/school-of-education

Brooklyn College
https://www.brooklyn.cuny.edu/web/academics/fieldsofstudy/undergraduate/earlychildhoodteacher.php

The City College of New York, CUNY
https://www.ccny.cuny.edu/earlychildhooded/


Leadership Literature

Young Children – January 2005: Leadership in Early Childhood Education
https://www.naeyc.org/yc/pastissues/2005/january

The Impact of Leadership Development on Early Childhood Education
https://www.pdfdrive.com/download/3381012

National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) – Early Childhood Leaders on Leadership
https://www.pdfdrive.com/early-childhood-leaders-on-leadership-naeyc-e4838237.html

A Study of Leaders’ Perspectives on Improving the Early Childhood
https://www.pdfdrive.com/a-study-of-leaders-perspectives-on-improving-the-early-childhood-e6598071.html


Early Childhood Literature

Science of Early Childhood Development
An online resource for teachers of young children focused entirely on the science of child development. This reource presents 5 modules, each focused on specific areas of child development, including developmental health, brain development, genetics and experience, coping and competence and communication and learning.
https://www.scienceofecd.com/


Job Opportunities

Please visit following resources to view available job opportunities in early childhood education:

New York Early Childhood Professional Development Institute
https://www.earlychildhoodnyc.org/career/jobopportunities.cfm

Idealist.org
https://www.idealist.org/


Other Resources

Powerful Interactions
https://www.powerfulinteractions.com/

The New York State Core Body of Knowledge
https://www.earlychildhoodnyc.org/resources/CBK.cfm

New York State Early Learning Guidelines
https://www.earlychildhoodnyc.org/resources/ELG.cfm

New York State Foundations for the Common Core
https://www.earlychildhoodnyc.org/resources/Prek.cfm

Stephen Rich’s Story

Celebrating Leadership, Partnership, and a Heart for Service

Read Stephen Rich’s Story

Nassau County Schools Facilities Association’s Story

Always there for our kids

Read Nassau County Schools Facilities Association’s Story

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