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Media

Published Articles & TV interviews

05/05/2025 | WBGZ Radio – President/CEO Gene Howell talks about federal funding for Head Start  

04/29/2025 | KMOX News – Head Start programs argue they’re a good value for taxpayers

04/28/2025 | Riverbender – Riverbend Head Start joins Illinois Campaign to Save Funding

12/25/2024 | Riverbender podcast – A Recap of Head Start in 2024 Including New Bus Service

11/11/2024| Riverbender – RHSFS to Welcome Local Veterans to Essic Robinson Center on Nov. 11

10/21/2024| Riverbender – Local Knights of Columbus Chapter Donates Coats to Edwardsville Head Start

10/01/2024 | Riverbender – RHSFS Announces Completion of New Interactive Playground

08/26/2024 | Riverbender – Riverbend Head Start & Family Services Hosting Annual Fundraiser

08/20/2024 | Riverbend Head Start appearance on the Charlie Tuna podcast

06/13/2024 | WBGZ Radio Interview – Riverbend Head Start Seeking Board Members 

06/06/2024 | The Telegraph – Riverbend Head Start Names Monica Bristow Board Chair

06/05/2024 | Riverbender – Board Changes at Riverbend Head Start

03/15/2024 | Riverbender – Riverbend Head Start Teacher is named IHSA Teacher of the Year 

02/08/2024 | WBGZ Radio Interview – RHSFS Penny Rush 2024 campaign 

12/13/2023 | WBGZ Radio Interview – RHSFS is Hiring Bus Drivers

11/21/2023 | WBGZ Radio Interview – Riverbend Head Start is the RBGA’s Spotlight agency for November

 11/15/2023 | Riverbender – RHSFS Receives $20,000 Donation for Kids’ Dental Care

11/11/2023 | The Pantagraph – Delta Dental of Illinois Awards Grants

11/9/2023 | The Telegraph – RHSFS to Receive $20,000 to Boost Dental Care Program 

10/23/2023 | KTVI Fox 2 – Granite City Police Chief visits Granite City South Head Start location   

08/11/2023 | Riverbender podcast – Our Daily Show Interview with CJ Nasello, A Head Start Overview 

06/05/2023 | St. Louis Post Dispatch – RHSFS Welcomes Two New Board Members

06/02/2023 | Alton Telegraph – Riverbend Head Start Names Board Members

04/01/2023 | Alton Main Street Newsletter – RHSFS now Hiring School Bus Drivers

03/19/2023 | Riverbender – RHSFS Receives ExceleRate Illinois Gold Circle of Quality Designation 

02/28/2023 | Alton Telegraph – Riverbend Head Start Hosts Penny Rush Campaign

02/22/2023 | Alton Telegraph – Police Chief Visits Head Start

02/21/2023 | KMOV Channel 4 – New Alton Police Chief Reaches out to Community  

02/21/2023 | Alton Telegraph – Fun with Chief Ford

02/15/2023 | WBGZ Radio Interview

02/13/2023 | St. Louis Post Dispatch – Newly Elected US Rep Nikki Budzinski visits Metro East

02/13/2023 | KTVI Fox 2 – Valentine’s for Veterans happening today in Granite City, IL 

02/01/2023 | Alton Telegraph – Riverbend Head Start Focuses on Dental Health

12/01/2022 | IL Business Journal – RHSFS Receives $10K Grant from Delta Dental 

8/13/2020 | Braida Will Chair Riverbend Head Start

8/12/2020 | Riverbend Head Start Appoints New Board Chairman

7/17/2020 | Head Start Helps Families Lead Bright Futures

7/9/2020 | Head Start to Receive $686K in Care Funds

7/8/2020 | Cares Act Funds Local Head Start Program

6/26/2020 | Supporting Victims of Domestic Violence

6/19/2020 | Early Learning Students Deserve Quality and Safety

5/2/2020 | Alton Agencies Partners to Provide Food For Families

1/12/2020 | Riverbend Head Start Getting $4.8M Grant

12/17/2019 | Riverbend Head Start Earns National Honor

07/19/2019 | Riverbend Head Start and Family Services Participates in Nutrition Program

06/19/19 | Kristin Tanzyus Appointed Board Chair at Riverbend Head Start

06/18/19 | Riverbend Head Start & Family Services appoints new chairwoman

4/30/2019 | ‘They Have Help For Us’: Riverbend Head Start Keeps Focus on Family

6/15/18 | Circle 25 Fundraiser Helps to Empower Future Generation

12/27/17 | Longtime President and CEO, Chuck Parr Retires at Year’s End, New President and CEO Appointed

07/13/2016 | Riverbend Head Start and Family Services Awarded $200,000 for two Granite City Centers

06/27/2016 | Rotary of the Riverbend Installs 2016-2017 Officers

07/28/2015 | Riverbend Head Start Wins Business Health Award

We're Here To Help

Our mission is to empower children and families to develop positive skills to meet life's challenges.

"Our experience with Head Start has been phenomenal. They have made us feel welcome and comfortable. They have also provided us with much-needed clothing items and resources."
-Foster Parent
"Thank you so much for your generous food donation to the Crisis Food Center. The items you sent us will help so much in our mission to supply healthy foods to our clients. We truly appreciate your efforts."
-Board & StaffCrisis Food Center
"AMAZING!!! I have one child that's center based and one that's about to be home based. All the staff is wonderful with the children and my daughter has so much fun. She loves to tell me what they did that day. I love to see her love school."
Alicia C.
"I think this is an absolutely wonderful program with an excellent curriculum and staff at the GC South location! I'm a very proud supporter and I'm happy to also be a part of it as a parent. I love the meetings we have and wish more parents could make it to them. As a whole, I believe we can make our children just as proud of us as we are of them. It's truly ALL about the betterment of our children and their education!"
Scott H.
"My greatest regret is not getting involved earlier with Riverbend."
Andrea
“I was overjoyed when I saw the bright smiles on the faces of the children at Riverbend Head Start. They do such a great job of helping to educate children and motivating parents so they no longer live in poverty. I just can't imagine a child so young experiencing the struggles they deal with, but I'm happy they have Riverbend Head Start to help.”
Shirley E.
“My children will have their best chance at success because of Riverbend Head Start.”
Megan C.
“As a single father of twin toddlers, Riverbend Head Start fills the gap of their mother. I’m grateful I chose Riverbend Head Start for early childhood education.”
William K.
“I am forever grateful to Riverbend Head Start for empowering me to be the very best advocate for my child not only now, but for the rest of my life."
Robert J.
“Riverbend Head Start has played a major role in helping me to better understand my child’s needs, and recognizing where she is, and where she should developmentally. So, when you ask, what does Head Start mean to me? Well, it means EVERYTHING!”
Lisa W.

Riverbend Head Start & Family Services
550 Landmarks Blvd., 3rd Fl.Alton, IL 62002
P: 618-463-5946

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This website is supported by Grant Number 05CH011888 from the Office of Head Start within the Administration for Children and Families, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Neither the Administration for Children and Families nor any of its components operate, control, are responsible for, or necessarily endorse this website (including, without limitation, its content, technical infrastructure, and policies, and any services or tools provided). The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed are those of Riverbend Head Start & Family Services and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Administration for Children and Families and the Office of Head Start.

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