RADFORD – Access to high-quality, affordable childcare is an essential part of support to families for a community.
When the Community Foundation of the New River Valley, in their Livability in the NRV Report, identified a “greater demand for quality childcare than is currently available in the region,” the non-profit Radford Child Development was born.
Dr. Agida Manizade, a math education professor at Radford University, saw this challenge first-hand when trying to find childcare for her two young children over a decade ago, resulting in panic at the lack of options, frustration, and then determination to change the status quo. In speaking with community stakeholders, she found many who felt the same.
Ten years ago, Dr. Manizade brought together these stakeholders to work to help solve this problem in Radford. They formed the non-profit Radford Child Development (RCD) Inc., a 100% volunteer-led organization, with the mission to bring the highest quality childcare and early education to the Radford area. The goal of this organization it to help families to improve their lives through access to an outstanding facility, while providing opportunities to increase affordability.
On Saturday, Dec. 3, RCD supporters gathered together to celebrate the achievements during a 10th Anniversary Gala Celebration. The Gala was held on Radford University’s campus. Manizade gave opening remarks, followed by video congratulations from Radford University President Dr. Bret Danilowicz and Mr. Bill Flattery, CEO of Carilion New River Valley Medical Center. Speakers included President of New Mexico Highlands University, Dr. Sam Minner, who provided invaluable support to the fledgling organization while Provost at Radford U; Dr. Robert Graham, the superintendent of Radford City Public Schools and RCD board member; Jessica Wirgau, the CEO of the Community Foundation of the NRV; and several other stakeholders.
The Radford Early Learning Center (RELC), is now in its sixth year of operation, with capacity for over 130 children birth – sixth grade. The center is the result of a multi-year cooperative effort by Radford Child Development, Radford University Foundation, Price-Williams Realty, and Rainbow Child Care Center (now KinderCare). Radford University Foundation supported this initiative with a non-interest start-up loan to RCD of $300,000 and Price-Williams Realty built a state-of-the-art building for the center.
The operator of the center, KinderCare, is a leading national provider of early education: since RELC began and seeing how quickly the center enrolled, the operator opened two other centers in the New River Valley. RELC won accreditation through the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) in 2019. NAEYC is a non-profit organization that “works to promote high-quality early learning for all young children, birth through age 8, by connecting early childhood practice, policy, and research.”
Through RCD fundraising efforts and an award of a Mixed Delivery Preschool Grant funded through the United Way of Southwest Virginia, RCD now supports full tuition for twenty children between RELC and another Radford facility, the R.O.C.K. Club.
Radford Child Development board to continue to grow their endowment fund, to ensure that the RELC remains affordable to all in the community through tuition discounts. If you would like to support RCD, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax deductible donations are accepted through their website, www.radfordchilddevelopment.org. You can also enroll in Kroger Community Rewards and Amazon Smile programs. These businesses will then donate a percentage of sales to RCD.
Submitted by Radford Child Development, Inc.