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Dear everyone,


Federal Reserve Chairman *Ben Bernanke* rarely wades into domestic policy
debates outside the purview of his fiscal responsibilities. That’s why it
was amazing, yet, in some ways unsurprising, last week when Bernanke
delivered a powerful case for investing in early childhood education.


At a speech before a New York City fiscal watchdog group, Bernanke preached
balanced budgets and fiscal responsibility. He also singled out early
childhood education as a powerful investment in our future that shouldn’t
fall victim to today’s budget battles


Our artist ambassador and early education advocate *Jennifer Garner* and I
cheered on Bernanke’s comments in *The Huffington Post*. Check it out:
http://huff.to/fnTOIN.


Bernanke’s words came just as Save the Children’s U.S. Programs participated
in a ground-breaking *U.S. Department of Education*-sponsored Youth Summit
on education. The Summit brought together 400 students, Obama
Administration officials and education leaders from around the country to
help figure out ways to ensure America’s competitiveness in college
completion over the next decade.


Twenty young people from our programs and the communites we serve came to
Washington to participate in the Summit. Three of the kids, *Hannah Smith,
Todd McDaniel, and Jacob Garrison*, from Clay County, Kentucky met
with *Governor
Steve Beshear* to talk about our programs and the importance of education.


We also made some news last month around the Department of Education’s
continued efforts -- and struggles -- with addressing the needs of rural
education. Take a look at *“On the Prairies of Astoria”* at
http://huff.to/eT0N9x.


Although this seemingly endless winter is finally ending, disasters can
strike any time of the year. In fact, a new study shows that half of all
children killed in home fires are under age five. Because many families
rely on unsafe heating methods in the winter, *FEMA head Craig Fugate*,* *
and *The National Commission on Children and Families*, which I chair,
partnered last month to help get the word out about home fire safety.


Check out this *USA Today* story on our partnership: *http://usat.ly/g5bKS3*
.**


Finally, last month, I visited Nashville to meet with *Carrie Underwood*.
The country music star, 2005 American Idol winner, and actor presented us a
check for $140,000. The funds were raised as part of a campaign from her
2010 tour, donating 36 cents from every ticket sold. Check out this story
and picture from *Nashville.com*: http://www.nashville.com/music/?p=8127.**


That’s all for now. I hope you enjoy a well-deserved warm start to spring
and, as always, please let me know if you have any thoughts, comments or
suggestions.


Warmly,


Mar