Building on Exchange’s strong history of community, the World Forum Foundation was founded to promote an on-going global exchange of ideas on the delivery of quality services for young children in diverse settings.
The World Forum Foundation was first visualized by Bonnie and Roger Neugebauer and Carmel and Rodney Kenner at a 1998 meeting in Sydney, Australia. To test the waters for the concept, Exchange organized the first ever World Forum on Early Care and Education held in Honolulu, Hawaii, in 1999.
The success of this first toe-in-the-water venture led to following World Forums in Singapore and Athens. In 2002, it was decided that the concept had legs. The venture was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit tax exempt corporation in the USA and has continued to sponsor gatherings of early childhood professionals around the globe. Over 5,000 early childhood professionals from 90 countries have participated in World Forum Foundation events.
Early believers in and creators of the World Forum include Kevin Carnes, Chip Donohue, Selena Fox, Amelia Gambetti, David Gleason and Gleason Family, Luis Hernandez, Ken Jaffe, Michael Kalinowski, Joan Lombardi, Peter Moss, Neugebauer Family, Alan Pence, Don Piburn, John Rhodes, Nancy and John Rosenow, Bruce Schon, Yasmina Vinci, Lily Wong, Elanna Yalow, and Mary Eming Young... and you.
To learn more about the World Forum Foundation and find out how you can get involved, visit www.worldforumfoundation.org.