The Vermont Center on Rural Development (VCRD) recently honored Rick Davis, co-founder and president of the Permanent Fund for Vermont's Children, with VCRD's lifetime achievement award. Every year, VCRD recognizes a leader who has a transformational effect on their community. VCRD recognized Davis's accomplishment of helping Vermonters understand the educational needs of young children and his advancement of the importance of early childhood education. The award was presented by Hal Cohen, Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Human Services and Arthur (Buzz) Schmidt, president of the Brattleboro Retreat Farm, at the second Climate Economy Summit.
Hal Cohen stated "It is our great pleasure to honor Rick Davis with this award for lifetime achievement in his work to transform the life prospects of Vermont's children. As we contemplate a resilient future for Vermont, we must ensure, beyond the fundamental issues of fairness and equity, that all young people are prepared to participate in and contribute to the climate economy and not be a drag on inevitably scarce public resources."
Schmidt added, "As with the climate - we can't just decide we'll get to this problem in five or ten years. Every year we wait get further and further in the hole. Like a deteriorating climate, each child lost compounds the direct and opportunity costs to society that accumulate over generations."
Over 400 businesses, non-profits, and community leaders attended VCRD's Summit on Vermont's Climate Economy.
The Vermont Council on Rural Development is a non-profit organization charged by the federal farm bill to act as a neutral convener at both the local and policy level supporting the progress of Vermont communities. VCRD promotes the platform of action that comes from the deliberations of Summit participants.
Founded in 2000 by philanthropists Rick Davis and Carl Ferenbach, the Permanent Fund's mission is to assure every Vermont child has access to high quality and affordable early care and education. The Permanent Fund supports two statewide initiatives: Let's Grow Kids and Vermont Birth to Five. Using a collaborative philanthropic approach, the Permanent Fund works with other funders, non-profits, community leaders and policy makers to improve educational outcomes, build stronger communities and make a lasting difference in the lives of Vermont's children. The Permanent Fund for Vermont's Children is a supporting organization of the Vermont Community Foundation.