Child Development Resources of Ventura County, Inc. (CDR) is hosting its second annual family fun day, Celebrate the Child!, on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009 from 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. at the Camarillo Ranch, 201 Camarillo Ranch Rd., Camarillo, CA 93012. 3,000 invited family members, including the children served by CDR, the largest social service agency in Ventura County, will be welcomed for a day filled with delicious, multi-cultural food offered by 40 area restaurants, family-friendly activities, such as games and arts and craft projects provided by 32 local businesses, an opportunity to meet local public safety representatives, such as the Fire Department, the Sheriff's K-9 Unit, American Medical Response Ambulance Service, and others, meet with representatives from First 5 of Ventura County and associated service agencies, and receive dental screenings by area dentists, to name a few of the activities and highlights of the day. This county-wide event, hosted by CDR in partnership with over 80 local businesses, is offered at no charge to those attending, and is sponsored by Sunbelt Enterprises, Santa Barbara Bank & Trust, Streamline Office Solutions, Sanfords Insurance Agency and Famers Insurance, Blue Shield of California, and Ponderosa Office Supply Company.

CDR manages an annual budget of more than $46 million dollars (federal, state and county funds) and employs just under 400 people. It has a long and proven track record of developing and administering Head Start (1965), Resource and Referral (1972), and subsidized child care programs (1976). The organization incorporated in 1980 and currently serves more than 5,500 children of low-income and high-risk families through the organization’s Head Start, Early Head Start, and Subsidized Child Care programs. CDR’s Resource and Referral program (R&R) provides an array of services for any resident of Ventura County searching for child care or information about how to become a child care provider. CDR assists nearly 2,000 families with child care technical assistance calls per month. Seen as a resource for child care professionals throughout the county, the R&R program provides up-to-date information on new happenings within the realm of the child care industry

We invite you to cover this family fun day, and encourage you to learn more about CDR and the services it provides by contacting Don Henniger, CDR Executive Director. Please let us know if you plan to attend Celebrate the Child! 2009, and we will work with you to arrange for interviews with Don Henniger, families attending the event, or local dignitaries attending, such as Rep. Lois Capps, or Stan Mantooth, Superintendent of Ventura County Schools.