East Savannah United (ESU) today announced it received a $100,000 grant from Truist Charitable Fund to support the construction of a 12,000 square-foot facility that will house a SPLOST-funded 144-seat early childhood learning center (ECLC) serving children aged six weeks to four years and a public children’s library. The ECLC will launch a long-planned revitalization of Savannah’s Wheaton Street corridor, aimed at helping the historically under-served residents there achieve greater educational equity and economic mobility.

“We are honored to have financial support from the Truist Charitable Fund for the new ECLC to be built in east Savannah,” said Derek Mallow, Executive Director of ESU. “To date, public funding from SPLOST, Chatham County and the City of Savannah will cover 78% of the capital cost with the remaining $2.5 million to be raised privately. Truist’s generous gift will help make it possible for area children to receive a quality early educational experience, positively and significantly influencing the trajectory of their lives.”

Numerous studies confirm the formative years are a critical time of brain development. When children are healthy, safe and experience organized learning prior to primary school, they are better able to reach their full developmental potential as adults and participate effectively in economic, social, and civic life. The ECLC is a significant investment in the neighborhood's revitalization efforts and will help promote inclusive economic growth, advance sustainable development, and provide much needed transformational change for Savannah’s east side neighborhoods. Construction is expected to be completed in 2025.

“We’re proud to support East Savannah United and its new early childhood learning center,” said Ryan Martin, Truist’s market president in Savannah. “Our purpose at Truist is to inspire and build better lives and communities and we’re grateful to be able to help underserved residents achieve greater educational equity and economic mobility through this project.”