MORRIS COUNTY, N.J. – Children carrying oversized cutouts of the letters R, C and G joined officials, families and employees of the Head Start Community Program of Morris County on Monday to honor Robert C. Grant, who stepped down as president after 22 years of service on the board of directors.
Grant guided the organization through government shutdowns, funding challenges and years of growth. Under his leadership, Head Start doubled its preschool capacity between its Dover headquarters and classrooms at county facilities in Parsippany-Troy Hills.
“What you have given children is not only a head start in education, but also an example of service to the community. When children see that, they learn that giving back is part of life — and when they give, they will receive it back a hundred times over. We need a thousand Bob Grants, and we need a thousand children who learn through this program and get a true head start,” said Morris County Commissioner Christine Myers, presenting a resolution of honor on behalf of the Board of County Commissioners.
Grant thanked his colleagues, past and present, during the ceremony at the Parsippany facility. He recalled milestones such as working with the late state Sen. Anthony R. Bucco and then-Gov. Richard Codey to secure $545,000 in state funding in the early 2000s, which helped bring 70 children off the program’s waiting list.
“This organization and its accomplishments have been truly bipartisan … not only bipartisan, but generational in its support,” Grant said. “It’s been a remarkable journey, but … the time has come for me to step aside.”
State Sen. Anthony M. Bucco, who carried on his father’s involvement with Head Start, presented Grant with a legislative citation.
“Your leadership has guided this program a long way, from Dover to here, and you should be really proud of that,” Bucco said.
Grant also helped advance a partnership in 2020 with county, state and federal officials to open classrooms for 90 children at a county facility in Parsippany. The site was later enhanced with a playground donated by the New York Jets Foundation and dedicated in 2021 as the Robert C. Grant Head Start Center.
He more recently oversaw renovations at the original Dover facility, where five classrooms were added with federal funding. That building was rededicated in summer 2025 as the Susan O’Donnell Head Start Headquarters to honor the program’s retired executive director.
At Monday’s ceremony, preschool children presented Grant with a giant thank-you letter. Two students read aloud: “Dear Mr. Grant, Thank you for helping to build our school. We love Head Start. We play, sing, read, exercise, learn math, create art, eat healthy meals and make many friends. RCG is a great place to be!”
A representative of U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill delivered a congressional certificate, while incoming board president Rebecca Kolpa presented a plaque on behalf of the board and staff.
Grant’s wife, Geordi, and his brother, Dan, joined relatives, along with county officials and former Head Start leaders, to mark the occasion.
Founded in 1965, Head Start of Morris County provides free early education and care to 301 children and families. It is the only Head Start program in New Jersey to achieve 5-STAR status from Grow NJ Kids.
More information is available at headstartmc.org or by calling 973-989-5640.
