HERSHEY, PA – Since 2011, the Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children (PennAEYC) has honored individuals and organization whose work has impacted the quality of care for young children in diverse settings.

The 2025 event recognized four individuals and the Chamber for their work that has impacted the quality of care for young children in diverse settings. Its annual Voice for Children Celebration gala celebrated the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce as the VOICE for Children Vision awardee.

“Over the last few years, child care and the recognition of its key role in not only supporting healthy child development but also being imperative for parents to work and its positive impact on our economy, has led the conversation allowing our sector to celebrate some real successes,” said Jen DeBell, Executive Director of PennAEYC. “But those steps forward would not have been possible without the critical role champions have played in advocating for high-quality early care and education settings. We were excited to celebrate the Schuylkill Chamber tonight along with all those who are part of the early childhood profession.”

The VOICE for Children Award is the only statewide award in Pennsylvania recognizing the grassroots leaders whose work impacts the quality of care for young children in diverse settings. These professionals have demonstrated outstanding dedication and commitment to advocating for high quality early learning opportunities in Pennsylvania.

The Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce, through partnerships with local chambers across Pennsylvania and organizations like ReadyNation, has focused efforts on addressing the child care workforce crisis to great effect. The organization’s work has centered around securing funding for a teacher recruitment and retention program aimed at supporting early child care educators.

The Chamber has recognized the initiative as crucial to the continued availability of quality child care that is vital for children, families, and employers. Accepting on behalf of the Chamber were Robert S. Carl, Jr., President and CEO, and Samantha M. Chivinski, Executive Vice President.

"The Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce has led the charge among local chambers across Pennsylvania to get them to speak with one voice in support of solving the teacher shortage crisis that plagues child care programs every day," said Steve Doster, State Director of ReadyNation. "As a working mom and dedicated grandfather, Samantha and Bob do this work because they see first-hand how child care teachers are the workforce behind the workforce."

The PennAEYC VOICE for Children Celebration was held on Friday, April 4 at the Hershey Lodge. It was emceed by Jasmine Brooks, evening news anchor at CBS 21. The honorees were presented with their awards during a program celebrating their successes. For full biographies of all of the winners, and more information on the event, visit https://www.pennaeyc.com/advocacy/voice-for-children-award/.

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The Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children (PennAEYC) is a statewide, nonprofit membership organization of over 3,000 early childhood care and education professionals. As the Pennsylvania affiliate of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), we are part of a network that includes 52 affiliates and nearly 60,000 individual members nationwide.

Through policy development, advocacy and professional development, and supports for early childhood professionals, we work to achieve the vision that each and every Pennsylvania family will have access to high-quality, affordable early childhood care and education opportunities for their children provided by a profession that is valued, well-compensated, and supported. PennAEYC is a proud principal partner of the Early Learning PA coalition and its nonpartisan, statewide advocacy efforts specifically focused on increasing access to high-quality child care, pre-k and Early Intervention services.