LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The vision of First 5 Lake County is that one day the success of Lake County will be measured by the wellbeing of its youngest children.

To this end, the First 5 Lake Commission would like to honor local businesses who have gone above and beyond to support families during the COVID-19 shelter-at-home order.

During this difficult season, the commission’s members said they know that many local businesses adjusted their policies and procedures in order to make sure that their employees with young children had the flexibility they needed to be able to continue working, or receiving a paycheck, while also making sure their children were cared for and nurtured.

These efforts may have included paying employees to stay home, adopting temporary work-from-home policies, subsidizing child care expenses, adjusting schedules to accommodate working parents’ needs, connecting employees to needed community resources, etc.

The First 5 Lake Commissioners look forward to honoring these local “Children’s Champion Businesses” and bringing their efforts to the attention of our Lake County friends and neighbors in July.

Members of the community are encouraged to nominate their employers by filling out a nomination form at www.firstfivelake.org .

Nominations must be received by July 3 for consideration.

Using funds derived from CA Proposition 10’s voter-mandated tax on tobacco products, the First 5 Lake County Commission funds programs and services that benefit the health and development of young children and educate parents, grandparents, caregivers and teachers about the critical role they play during a child’s first five years.

Since its inception in 2000, First 5 Lake has supported thousands of families with programs and services designed to help Lake County children grow up healthy and ready to succeed in school and life.

Current First 5 Lake Commissioners are Pam Klier, Denise Pomeroy, Brock Falkenberg, Tina Scott, Crystal Markytan, Susan Jen, Carly Sherman and Allison Panella.