Candelen

As students head back to the classroom, literacy remains the foundation for learning, confidence, and lifelong success. But strong readers aren't built in schools alone. Parents, caregivers, and educators all play a vital role in nurturing a child's love of reading and helping them develop the skills they need to thrive. At Candelen, we are committed to supporting the adults who make literacy possible every day, providing caregivers, parents, and educators with the tools, resources, and encouragement to create meaningful learning experiences both at home and in the classroom. Together, we can help every child start the school year ready to learn, grow, and succeed. One story, one page, and one reader at a time.

What can happen in 50 years? A child grows up, becomes a parent, and raises the next generation. A neighborhood becomes a community. A vision becomes a legacy. This National Nonprofit Day, we're celebrating five decades of Candelen showing up for caregivers, educators, parents, & families; believing in potential, and creating opportunities that ripple across generations. Because nonprofit work isn't measured in years. It's measured in lives. And after 50 years, we're just getting started. #NationalNonprofitDay #Candelen50Years #ImpactAcrossGenerations #NonprofitStrong #Candelen

Leadership shines brightest when it’s shared. ✨ We’re incredibly proud of Candelen leaders Kavita Bernstein, Angela Tapia and Ruth Ray for taking the stage at the AZ Impact for Good conference to share their experience, insights and lessons learned on Sustaining Impact during Change: Keeping People, Priorities & Purpose Aligned. Their voices, expertise and commitment to leading with purpose are a reflection of the incredible leadership we’re fortunate to have across Candelen. We’re proud to see our leaders not only doing this work every day, but sharing what they’ve learned to strengthen and inspire our broader nonprofit community. 💛 #Candelen #Leadership #NonprofitLeadership #BetterTogether #AZNonprofits

We are excited to share that Candelen will be presenting at the upcoming 𝗔𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗼𝗻𝗮 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 (AZ Impact for Good) on 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟭𝟯𝘁𝗵. Join us for 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲: 𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲, 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗔𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗲𝗱, a session focused on navigating organizational change while maintaining mission, culture, and impact. Presented by Kavita Bernstein, Ruth Ray, and Angela Tapia, this session will explore practical strategies for leading through change, engaging teams, and staying connected to the work that matters most.

This World Breastfeeding Week, we celebrate the strength of parents and the importance of support during pregnancy and the postpartum journey. Breastfeeding can provide important health benefits for both babies and parents, including supporting infant nutrition, strengthening immune systems, and promoting parent child bonding. World Breastfeeding Week highlights the importance of ensuring families have access to education, resources, and support throughout their feeding journey. At Candelen, we know that breastfeeding is a personal choice and every family's journey looks different. Through our Prenatal & Postpartum Program, we provide education, resources, and compassionate support to help families make informed decisions that work best for them and their babies. Together, we can create a community where every parent feels informed, supported, and empowered.

Arizona families pay $14,000–$15,000 annually for infant care — more than many college tuitions - while over 11,000 children wait for child care assistance. Flat funding for CCDBG and Early Head Start in the FY2027 budget means these programs shrink as costs rise, creating longer waitlists, higher family costs, and workforce instability. Child care isn't just about supervision. It's about workforce participation, family economic security, and child development. . 👉 Take action: tr.ee/speakupforazbabies #SpeakUpForAZBabies

Some of life's most meaningful lessons begin with bedtime stories, conversations around the dinner table, walks through the neighborhood, and the everyday moments filled with curiosity, love, and connection. This National Parents' Day, we celebrate the parents and caregivers whose encouragement, patience, and unwavering love help children build confidence, discover where they belong, and develop a lifelong love of learning. At Candelen, we're honored to walk alongside families as they nurture strong foundations that help children thrive today and for years to come. Happy National Parents' Day! 💙

Candelen's 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗺 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 continues to provide free support, education, and resource connections to families throughout Maricopa County. Through individualized prenatal and postpartum services, we help families navigate pregnancy, birth, and early parenting while promoting positive maternal and infant health outcomes. Since launching our program we have achieved: • 91% of babies were born full term • 95% of babies were born within a healthy birth weight range • 87% of mothers initiated breastfeeding Together with our community partners, we are helping families build healthy foundations and giving children the best possible start in life.

🎉Since 𝟭𝟵𝟳𝟲, we've believed one simple truth: when adults feel supported, children get the brightest possible beginning. 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝟱𝟬 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀, Candelen has stood beside the parents, educators, and caregivers who shape a child's world; the ones inspiring curiosity, building confidence, and helping children to discover everything around them! 💛 Through educational programs, supportive services, and practical tools, we've walked alongside these adults as they raise, teach, and care for children, helping them feel confident and equipped through every critical stage of early childhood. 𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝘄𝗲'𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝟱𝟬 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴! 🥳 #Candelen50 #LightingTheWay #BrighterFutures #EarlyChildhoodMatters     

🧠 𝗘𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀. The proposed FY2027 federal budget recommends eliminating Project LAUNCH, a program that helps connect behavioral health, primary care, and early childhood services. In Arizona, Project LAUNCH helps improve behavioral health and primary care coordination, support early screening for young children, strengthen caregiver-child relationships, and connect families to prevention services. Without programs like Project LAUNCH, families may not get help until problems become crises. 👉 Tell Congress to protect early childhood mental health programs: tr.ee/speakupforazbabies #InfantMentalHealth #FundBabiesAZ #ProjectLAUNCH #SpeakUpForAZBabies @azaimh