Strong beginnings. Confident families. Lifelong learners.

Great things grow from strong roots. At the San Bernardino Education Foundation, we are excited to introduce Foundations for Learning, an expanded and strengthened approach to early childhood education and family engagement that builds upon years of meaningful work supporting San Bernardino’s youngest learners and their families.

This exciting new chapter is a natural progression of the incredible work that began with the Karnig Infant Toddler Success (KITS) Program. What started as an initiative to empower parents and caregivers with the knowledge, resources, and support needed to help their children thrive has grown into something even greater. Through years of building relationships, listening to families, and responding to community needs, we have recognized new opportunities to connect early childhood development with school readiness, family engagement, and lifelong learning.

Foundations for Learning honors that legacy while expanding our vision for what is possible.

We know that a child’s educational journey begins long before the first day of kindergarten. Parents, caregivers, educators, and the broader community all play essential roles in creating the experiences and opportunities that help children succeed.

Our expanded Foundations for Learning pillar brings together four complementary programs, each designed to support children and families at important stages of their early learning journey:

• I.T.E.S. Club (Karnig Infant Toddler Education Success): Continuing the heart of our original program by bringing families together through enrichment activities, meaningful connections, peer support, and access to valuable resources.
• Growing Together: Empowering parents and caregivers with practical knowledge, tools, and confidence through Science of Parenting classes offered in partnership with California State University, San Bernardino.
• Growing Learners: Helping families take important first steps toward educational success by encouraging early enrollment in preschool, transitional kindergarten (TK), and other early education opportunities offered through San Bernardino City Unified School District.
• My Community, My Classroom: Turning our own community into a place of discovery! Through local exploration, hands-on activities, and family experiences connected to the District’s Parents’ Guide to Student Success, children discover that learning happens everywhere—not just inside a classroom.

Rooted in Our History. Growing for the Future.

This evolution is about more than expanding programs. It reflects our commitment to building stronger connections between families, schools, and the community while deepening our partnership with San Bernardino City Unified School District.

The foundation established through the original KITS program remains at the heart of this work: when we invest in parents and caregivers, we invest in children’s futures. Today, we are building upon that foundation with more opportunities for families to connect, learn, explore, and prepare their children for success.

As the Making Hope Happen Foundation becomes the San Bernardino Education Foundation, Foundations for Learning represents the very best of our evolution—honoring the programs and people who brought us here while embracing new possibilities for the children and families we serve.

We are proud of where this journey began, excited about how it continues to grow, and grateful to the families, educators, and community partners who make it possible.

Foundations for Learning: Where strong beginnings grow into brighter futures