Since 2009, the Great Start Parent Coalition has raised nearly $13,000 in grants and fundraising, to award 26 preschool scholarships over two school years. The efforts were prompted by increases in the number of Sanilac children living in poverty every year since 2006. The clincher was realizing that only one-third of children between the ages of 2 and 5 who were eligible to attend preschool were enrolled. Through the generosity of the Sanilac County Community Foundation, Gannett Foundation and hard work of the GSPC they were able to raise $13,600 and assist 26 children to have a preschool experience since 2011. It is the intention of the Coalition to raise $15,000 for the next school year and enable more than 20 additional children to attend a preschool. The Preschool Scholarship funds partial tuition, between 20%-50% and is intended for working families who may be struggling to meet the preschool costs yet don't qualify for state of federally funded preschools.