Editor's note: The Horizons Initiative is one of many charitable organizations to which Harvard employees can contribute through the Community Gifts through Harvard campaign.

By Susan Peterson

Gazette Staff

When Bright Horizons Childcare Inc., a company providing corporate childcare in several states, started in Cambridge eight years ago, its managers saw a group that wasn't being served: homeless children.

Who would provide educational programs and opportunities for them?

The managers, Roger Brown and Linda Mason, talked about the idea with a friend from graduate school, Michael Eisenson, and together the group decided to do something in their own backyard.

And from that was born Horizons Initiative, an organization that provides childcare for homeless children and support services for their parents. Since its beginning eight years ago, the organization now operates two wide-ranging programs helping homeless families. Eisenson, CEO of Harvard Private Capital, the private investment unit of the Harvard Management Company, was one of the founders.

"I have a particular interest in homeless children, and when we started with this idea, there weren't any programs like this in the Greater Boston area," Eisenson explained. "And still, none offer the breadth and depth of the Horizons Initiative."

Horizons programs aim to help homeless children overcome the negative effects of their homeless experience and develop an educational foundation. "These children are important, and there are often no alternatives for them," Eisenson said. "But it is a group we can help."

Eisenson's commitment is appreciated by the executive director of Horizons Initiative. "Michael is one of the few people who can be held responsible for taking pride in having an idea, and can actually say they did it," said Sue Heilman.

One of the Horizons Initiative programs recruits and trains more than 1,000 volunteers to provide part-time childcare services in 25 area homeless family shelters. "Play spaces" with toys, art supplies, and educational tools have also been created in shelters where there wasn't a good place for children to play.

The second program is a full-time childcare center in Dorchester, for preschool children of homeless families. Seventy-one children -- including infants, toddlers, and preschoolers -- from 10 homeless shelters, currently participate in the full-day preschool. In the meantime, their parents receive mandatory educational services and job placement assistance.

"We focus on the kids who are in shelters or right after they leave," said Heilman. "We've identified a need for stimulation, education, and nurturing the children who are too young to go to school."

Heilman explained that Horizons Initiative recruits volunteers who are willing to commit two hours a week for six months to help in the homeless shelters. There are currently about 200 Horizons Initiative volunteers working with about 300 children at 25 Boston-area shelters each week.

Eisenson's enthusiasm has encouraged many of his colleagues to support the Horizons Initiative programs through the Community Gifts Campaign.

"I think a lot of people are interested in homeless children, and there are very few avenues to have an effect in this area," Eisenson said. "Horizons Initiative has invested the money it has received prudently, and people want to be sure that their gifts are put to good use."