Irvine : $25,000 Given to Build Child-Care Facilities

The Irvine Childrens Fund announced that it has received its first major contribution--$25,000 from Allergan Inc.--to begin this year’s corporate fund-raising campaign.

The contribution will go toward building portable child-care facilities at Irvine schools. Officials of the fund said Irvine is experiencing an “escalating child-care crisis.”

“Every day in Irvine 4,000 children, ages 5 to 9 years, go home to an empty house after school,” said Barbara Wiener, president of the fund. “Sites (for child-care facilities) are there. Parent support is ready.”

The fund is part of the Irvine Child Care Project, which was created two years ago largely due to a $250,000 grant from the Irvine Co., project officials said.