Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: Project One Day
Legal Name (if Different):
Also Known As:
Mailing Address: PO Box 27221
City: Houston
State: TX
Postal Code: 77227
Main Phone: 8326031153
Main Fax:
Organization Website: https://www.podhouston.org/
Employer ID Number: 84-3963489
Organization Tax Status: 501(c)(3)

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: 03/28/2025
Requested Amount: 7000

Project Title: General Operations
Project Description:

Across Houston, thousands of single parents face devastating barriers to accessing safe, affordable childcare. Full-time infant care costs, on average, $18,000 per year—a crushing burden for minimum-wage earners, who bring home just $15,000 annually. Since 1990, childcare costs have soared by 220%, far outpacing inflation, consuming at least two-thirds of a low-income parent’s wages. This forces families into impossible choices: leave their child in unsafe, unlicensed care, sacrifice work and financial stability, or fall deeper into poverty. Project One Day (POD) is a Christ-centered nonprofit childcare model serving children ages six weeks to three years old. Designed to support single parents, POD offers an innovative model that lowers costs, engages parents, and ensures an excellent student-to-teacher ratio while providing high-quality early learning in a faith-based setting. Parents volunteer one day per week in exchange for 40 hours of free childcare, allowing them to work or pursue education. Training for the program is 100% free and can be completed in 30 classroom hours. POD prioritizes infants—often underserved due to high care costs—providing essential support during critical early development. POD’s unique model reduces operating costs by $5,000 per child. However, $12,900 of expenses remain to cover meals, diapers, and a nurturing environment. Project One Day covers 100% of this, so no parent pays tuition. Knowing that 60% of infant childcare budgets go to teacher salaries to comply with state mandates for student-to-teacher ratios, POD’s model allows for top-notch student-to-teach ratios at a lower cost.

This project ensures infants receive safe, high-quality care while single parents work or study to achieve financial stability. By bridging gaps in infant care, POD supports healthy development and early intervention, improving long-term outcomes. This investment helps break cycles of poverty, providing children with nurturing environments and brighter futures.

Total Project Budget: 453,139

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): Committed: Charity Guild of Catholic Women. Potential: St. Luke’s UMC, Faye L. and William L. Cowden Foundation, Jack H. and William M. Light Charitable Trust, and Robert W. Knox Sr. And Pearl Wallis Knox Foundation.

Project Duration: 12 months
Geographical Area Served: Harris County – We serve Sharpstown, which is an economically at-risk neighborhood with all the parents in our program living at or below 250% of the poverty line and 80% are single parent households.
Age Group To Be Served: 6 weeks – 3 years old

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Mrs.
Contact First Name: Jennifer
Contact Last Name: Johnson
Contact Title: Executive Director
Contact Phone: 832-603-1153
Contact Email: jennifer.johnson@podhouston.org