We are thrilled to announce a new partnership this year with the Anne & Gene Worrell Foundation, which will help address the Charlottesville area (Thomas Jefferson Planning District) childcare shortage of more than 2,600 childcare slots. As part of our partnership strategy, we will support the growth of new and existing early learning and childcare centers to increase availability in our region.
Together in 2025, we will provide seed funding and technical assistance to early education entrepreneurs working to lessen the Charlottesville area childcare shortage.
An example of how this work may come to fruition is similar to United Way of Greater Charlottesville’s involvement with Pilgrim Baptist Church. They are a current United Way grantee and partner and will soon be operating Charlottesville’s first Black-owned Montessori daycare program in the historic 10th and Page neighborhood, adding several much-needed childcare slots to our community. We are proud to be a part of their story, and more like it in the future. We will also provide leadership for critical community coalitions working to address a variety of issues related to the slot shortfall, including the Head Start task force that was recently highlighted on Charlottesville Tomorrow.
Our collaboration with the Anne & Gene Worrell Foundation will have a positive impact on the resources and services we offer through our early childcare and education initiatives such as Ready Region Blue Ridge and the Go2Grow childcare application portal. Accessible, quality childcare gives children the foundation they need to enter school ready to learn, which is vital to their success later in life. It also helps their families become financially stable and resilient, as it allows their parents to maintain steady employment and/or continue their education.
We appreciate community partners like the Anne & Gene Worrell Foundation whose mission and goals align with our own–to help all families thrive. When we are able to collaborate, pool resources, and work together, there is no limit to what we can accomplish. We continue our work in the new year optimistic, focused, and determined to see the Charlottesville area childcare shortage lessen in our community.