A child’s first lessons about money don’t have to begin with their first paycheck. Thanks to a generous $63,500 gift from First National Bank, children at The Village Early Learning Center will have the opportunity to begin learning about saving, responsibility, and planning for their futures from some of their very first years.
First National Bank’s investment in The Village Early Learning Center, currently under construction on the Methodist Village Senior Living campus in Fort Smith, will support the creation of the Center’s Community Village and establish First Fund, an innovative financial literacy initiative designed to introduce young children and their families to the importance of saving.
Expected to open in January 2027, The Village Early Learning Center will serve up to 136 children from infancy through age five and will be open to families throughout Fort Smith and the River Valley, including military and veteran families, healthcare professionals, first responders, educators and working families across the community.
A FIRST FUND FOR THEIR FUTURE
Through First Fund, families of the Center’s first 136 children will have the opportunity to open a savings account in their child’s name. First National Bank will contribute the first $100 to each qualifying account, providing participating children with more than money in the bank; it provides an opportunity for families to begin conversations about saving, goal-setting, and financial responsibility from an early age.
“At First National Bank, we believe one of the greatest investments we can make is in the future of our children,” said Sam Sicard, President of First National Bank. “First Fund is about planting a seed. If we can help children and their families understand the importance of saving from the very beginning, we can help establish habits that may benefit them for the rest of their lives. We are proud to partner with Methodist Village on something that can make a lasting difference for children, families, and our community.”
For Methodist Village Senior Living CEO Melissa Curry, the partnership represents exactly what The Village Early Learning Center was created to accomplish bringing community partners together to invest in children in ways that extend far beyond traditional childcare.
“First National Bank didn’t simply give us a check, they invested in the future of 136 children and the generations that will follow them,” Curry said. “A child may not remember opening that first savings account, but their parents can build upon it, talk about it, and teach them why it matters. Imagine a child entering kindergarten already knowing that saving is something we do for our future. That is a lesson that can grow right alongside them.”
BUILDING A COMMUNITY WITHIN THE VILLAGE
A portion of First National Bank’s gift will also support the development of the Early Learning Center’s Community Village, an interactive environment designed to help children learn about the world around them through imaginative, hands-on experiences.
The Community Village will provide opportunities for children to explore concepts such as community, careers, responsibility, service, and everyday life through age-appropriate play and learning. Financial literacy will become part of that larger experience, helping children begin to understand how banks, businesses and individuals work together to build strong communities.
“Children learn through experiences,” Curry said. “The Community Village gives us an opportunity to take lessons out of a book and bring them to life. First National Bank is helping us create a place where children can begin learning what it means to be part of a community and that they have a role in its future.”
AN INVESTMENT THAT CAN GROW FOR GENERATIONS
The First National Bank partnership complements The Village Early Learning Center’s broader mission, “Rooted in Care. Growing in Knowledge.” The Center will combine early childhood education with nature, literature, character development, hands-on learning, and meaningful intergenerational experiences with residents of Methodist Village Senior Living.
The approximately $2.3 million Early Learning Center is expected to open in January 2027, with 13 classrooms and a capacity of up to 136 children from infancy through age 5.
“We are incredibly grateful to Sam Sicard, the First National Bank Board of Directors and the entire First National Bank family for believing in this vision,” Curry said. “Buildings are important, but what happens inside them is what changes lives. This gift will help us teach children lessons about responsibility, community, and their future. That is an investment whose value can’t simply be measured in dollars.”
About The Village Early Learning Center
The Village Early Learning Center is an initiative of Methodist Village Senior Living in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Opening is anticipated in January 2027. The Center will provide early childhood education for families throughout Fort Smith and the River Valley while creating meaningful opportunities for children and older adults to learn, grow, and build relationships together.
Mission: To provide wonderful life experiences that enable our residents, children, and their families to lead full and enriching lives.
Vision: To exceed the expectations of our residents, parents, and families while inspiring hearts and minds.
