From Finding Child Care to Giving Back
Before Jenn Ho became a Connections for Children (CFC) Board Member, she was a graduate student and mother looking for child care. CFC helped her understand her options and find places to contact. Today, her support is grounded in that firsthand experience and her belief in lasting partnerships with families and caregivers. Jenn shares why she gives and how she models service for her two sons.
Tell us a little about yourself.
I'm a mom of two boys, ages 10 and 12. My husband, Roy, and I live in Santa Monica. I grew up in the Bay Area and moved to Santa Monica from Washington, D.C. to earn my PhD in social research methodology at UCLA's School of Education.
After working in international development, on university projects, and teaching, I moved into philanthropy. I spent almost five years at the Hilton Foundation and now at the James Irvine Foundation for nearly five years. My role is in evaluation and learning: understanding the impact of the dollars we invest in nonprofits and the communities they serve. Outside of work, I love the beach, reading, being active outdoors, baking, and exploring the world with my kids.
How did you first connect with CFC?
My first connection was as a client. I had two babies while completing my doctorate. Our families lived in the Bay Area and Washington, D.C., and I didn't have many friends with children in the area who could point me toward care. I was doing school site visits and writing my thesis, and I was panicked about finding child care.
A project manager I worked with at UCLA suggested calling CFC. The staff asked what I was looking for, walked me through different characteristics of child care programs, and gave me a list of places to contact. Having resources to work with was a major relief. I returned to the referral service as our needs changed, including moving from infant care to preschool and finding care for our second son.
What inspired you to become a Board Member?
I was invited to join by Iao Katagiri and Jennifer Cowan, and it was an opportunity to build on my connection with CFC and contribute my own relationships and experience. I knew many young moms asking where to find child care, and it was wonderful to share CFC as a resource. Being a client and being a Board Member give you different perspectives to CFC’s work and its importance.
My current professional focus on economic mobility in California also reinforces how essential child care is. Families are balancing work, young children, and sometimes care for older adults. Affordable, sustainable care is difficult to find. Resource and referral agencies help families navigate options and complicated subsidy paperwork, which is especially important when parents have limited time or unpredictable work schedules.
Why do you choose to give to CFC?
CFC is an important part of a larger system of care. It helps families find and pay for quality care while supporting child care providers through business development and ongoing professional learning. It touches the full pathway: access to care, quality educators, and support for the people doing this essential work. That position within our community is what makes CFC special to me.
CFC is in it for the long haul with families and caregivers. You can give money for goods and services—like buying books, and that is a wonderful thing to do. But I also think about what families need after those books have been read.
CFC's work is about real partnership: building relationships, being there for people, and understanding their circumstances and what works for them. That kind of partnership is what matters most to me. It certainly did when I was looking for care.
How do you involve your children in giving back?
The best thing I can do is model it. My kids know when I'm spending time with CFC or attending the Betsy Awards, even when they can't come. Showing how you choose to spend your time in service is important.
They've come to Holiday Angels and loved being helpful, explaining instructions and escorting people through the office. It’s important having a sense of purpose and being part of a group working together. Volunteering doesn't have to be overwhelming. Whether you give a day or an hour, there is a way to participate.
What would you tell someone considering a gift?
Many parents know how difficult it is to navigate affordable, quality child care. Supporting families through this process is critical, especially when it comes to accessing needed resources (because care is often prohibitively expensive!). Training and professional development for caregivers are also wonderful investments in strengthening our child care system over time.
I appreciate how CFC is integrated into the community, including its presence on community college campuses. A strong community is one where everyone is set up for success. All our community members deserve that.
What are your hopes for the children and families CFC serves?
I hope they thrive and enjoy early childhood, with the time and space to be together in meaningful ways. When accessing care is stressful, it can be hard to focus on that time together.
Knowing your child is safe, loved, growing, and having a great time brings parents relief. I want families to have that comfort, support, and stability.
Complete this sentence: I give because...
I give because child care is a critical building block of life, and I want to be sure this essential work receives the support it deserves.
Join Board Member Jenn Ho in supporting Connections for Children and helping local families access the child care and early learning opportunities they need.
