What is PEPS Unplugged? It’s a compendium of news, updates and recognitions, a way for the PEPS community to share some of the many things going on around PEPS.

Item #1. The PEPS 2008 Luncheon was a great success thanks to the over 460 guests whose gifts helped PEPS raise over $137,000!! Special appreciation goes out to our 44 stalwart Table Captains, our many generous sponsors, our dedicated Luncheon Committee, and our wonderful Luncheon Chair Mary Ellen Cavallon (left in picture) and Co-Chair Cara Lewis (right in picture).

Item #2. A big thank you to the Boeing Company for their support for PEPS parents this year. In addition to being the Leadership sponsor of the 2008 Luncheon, the Boeing Company has invested in support for local families through a grant to fund the first year of our extension into Snohomish County and has also sponsored professional training for our staff. We are proud to be one of the Boeing Company's Flight to the Future Early Learning grantees and appreciate their confidence in our work.

Item #3. Our Little PEPperS program has really taken off in 2008!! Parents who missed out on a PEPS experience and parents with a new baby and a toddler in their family are now able to access a mutual support group designed just for them!!  PEPS is offering this program at three sites in Seattle and one in Bellevue. Our July Little PEPperS sessions are already full and September sessions are filling fast!!

Item #4. Always looking to be relevant for each cohort of new parents, PEPS has added an exciting new component to the PEPS Group program. Starting in May, each Group now receives a specially-designed topic session on Early Learning with both the science of brain development and the practical skills to foster their baby’s social, emotional and intellectual growth at an age-appropriate pace.

Item # 5. Is your PEPS Group still meeting? If so you may already have received a visit from PEPS Community Outreach Coordinator Betsy Sullivan.  Betsy is working tirelessly to both reconnect PEPS with Groups from past years that continue to meet and to encourage graduating Groups to stay together. If you haven’t had a chance to meet Betsy yet, drop her a line at betsys@pepsgroup.org!