CARE for Children is again a recipient of the Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations’ Seal of Excellence for successfully completing their rigorous Standards for Excellence® accreditation program. CARE for Children voluntarily opened itself up to analysis by a “jury of its peers.” The peer review team examined CARE for compliance with the Standards for Excellence®: An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector, in areas including: Mission, Strategy and Evaluation; Leadership: Board, Staff, and Volunteers; Legal Compliance and Ethics; Finance and Operations; Resource Development; and Public Awareness, Engagement, and Advocacy.
PANO evaluates fundamental values such as honesty, integrity, fairness, respect, trust, responsibility, and accountability, all of which are inherently important in the nonprofit world. CARE’s programs and services, management, fundraising and financial practices were subjected to in-depth examination prior to earning accreditation.
Tyler R. Hannah, president of CARE for Children’s Board of Directors commented, "CARE is extremely proud of this accreditation and distinction. Along with our Board of Directors, our staff's hard work proves that CARE operates at maximum efficiency in order to have a maximum impact on our mission of improving the lives of children of all abilities.”
CARE for Children was first awarded the Seal of Excellence in 2004, and was re-accredited in 2007, 2013, 2017 and most recently in December 2022.
“Recertification for the Standards for Excellence is a rigorous process which is the ‘Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval’ for non-profit organizations. CARE is the only organization in McKean County that is accredited through this program. The process and accreditation demonstrate ethical transparency, organizational sustainability and adherence to best practices,” says Karen Gelston, CARE board member and chair of the Policy and Personnel Committee.
"The Seal of Excellence is granted to well-managed, responsibly governed organizations that are deserving of the public’s trust," explains Tish Mogan, Standards for Excellence Director for PANO. "CARE’s Board and staff have shown an extensive level of commitment to this process, and their pursuit of the Seal of Excellence confirms that they believe strongly in promoting a culture of ethics in their operations and governance." Anne Gingerich, PANO’s Executive Director, adds: “CARE can focus even more fully on advancing their mission of improving the lives of children of all abilities because the Standards set the conditions for their internal systems to run as efficiently and effectively as possible. The Seal of Excellence is truly one of the ways that organizations can better position themselves to reach their fullest potential.”
PANO is committed to raising the level of principled and responsible practices within the nonprofit sector. PANO is licensed by the Standards for Excellence Institute® to offer a model for organizations to implement in their operating plans so they can gain a deeper understanding of their effectiveness, improve their decision-making and minimize risks.
CARE for Children is a non-profit organization which provides pediatric therapy services, early learning programs, child safety and injury prevention initiatives, and community outreach services for children of all abilities in McKean County, Pennsylvania and the surrounding region. CARE for Children has been providing services for children of all abilities since 1924.
PANO is a statewide membership organization amplifying the impact of the community benefit sector through advocacy, collaboration, learning, communication and support services. PANO exists to support the incredible work of the nonprofit sector and highlight the critical role nonprofits serve. By coming together and recognizing our collective value, Pennsylvania communities and the power to do good will thrive. For more information on PANO and PANO’s Standards for Excellence® Program, visit www.pano.org.
The Standards for Excellence originated as a special initiative of Maryland Nonprofits in 1998 and has since expanded into a national program to help nonprofit organizations achieve the highest benchmarks of ethics and accountability in nonprofit governance, management and operations. The program has been formally adopted by ten state, regional and national affiliate organizations, and is supported by 66 Licensed Consultants and over 100 volunteers with professional experience in nonprofit governance and administration. Since its inception, the program has accredited or recognized over 200 individual nonprofit organizations that completed a rigorous application and review process to demonstrate adherence to the Standards for Excellence: An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector. www.standardsforexcellenceinstitute.org.
Photo Caption: (Left-Right) CARE for Children board members Tyler R. Hannah, President and Karen Gelston, Chair of the Policy and Personnel Committee, along with CARE Executive Director, Tina M. Martin display CARE’s re-accreditation certificate from PANO’s Standards for Excellence Program.
