Adopt A Provider Momentum: United Way Grant Fuels Vital Child Care Support in Langlade County

The momentum for sustainable child care solutions in Langlade County is gaining steam. The Dream Up! Langlade County Taskforce is thrilled to announce a generous $10,000 grant award from United Way of Langlade County to support the new, grassroots Adopt A Provider program.

This funding arrives at a critical time, validating the community-wide effort to stabilize and expand access to quality early childhood education in the Antigo area and surrounding towns.

A Grant Fueled by Core Community Needs
United Way of Langlade County is dedicated to tackling core community needs, prioritizing organizations that address Basic Needs, Safety, Education, and Child Care. Following an interview and review process by their board of directors, the decision to award this grant to the Adopt A Provider program underscores the urgency and effectiveness of the Dream Up! Taskforce’s mission.

“We are incredibly grateful to United Way for providing the resources needed to quickly meet the essential needs of our local child care centers. This generous grant allows us to quickly deploy funds through the Adopt A Provider program, ensuring providers can immediately secure groceries, supplies, and other necessities they have listed.” said Angie Close, Executive Director of the Langlade County Economic Development Corp. “However, since the need for essential resources is constant, we encourage the rest of the community to join United Way in this vital effort and help us sustain this program well into the future.”

The Power of the Adopt A Provider Program
The core idea is simple: Local businesses, organizations, and residents can assist local child care providers and help keep care costs down for families simply by sponsoring necessities, like groceries. Simply CHOOSE a need from the list at Childcaring.org/AdoptProvider, CONNECT with the child care provider, and CONTRIBUTE to their success.

The $10,000 grant will be strategically funneled directly into these essential sponsorships, ensuring that the regulated providers across Langlade County can secure crucial items, including:

• Essential Groceries: Items like milk, fresh produce, and snacks.
• Operating Supplies: Wipes, tissues, paper towels, and art supplies.
• Equipment: Contributions toward bibs, cribs, or playground updates.

By covering these routine operational costs, the Adopt A Provider program directly relieves financial pressure on centers, which in turn helps prevent escalating tuition fees for Langlade County parents.

Upon the writing of this article, the regulated providers with needs on the list include Antigo Child Care Center, Elcho Early Learning Center, LeRoyer Child Care, and Marciniak’s Daycare.

A Brighter Future Starts With You
We encourage all Langlade County businesses and individuals to check out the needs list at Childcaring.org/AdoptProvider.  Your simple contribution can fuel the success of a local child care provider plus, you can choose a need that best resonates with you or your business!

This is an exciting moment for Langlade County. The successful partnership between the Dream Up! Taskforce and United Way proves that when our community collaborates, transformative change for our children and our local economy is possible.

About the Dream Up! Taskforce

The Dream Up! Taskforce, formed in 2023, is continuing their work to change the child care concept in Langlade County by; providing resources to existing child care programs and start-ups, advocating for sustainable child care funding beyond parent fees, and educating the community on the current child care crisis while looking ahead to the future.

About Childcaring, Inc.
Childcaring, Inc is a non-profit Child Care Resource and Referral Agency and Family Resource Center. Part of their mission is to help community agencies develop solutions to the complex child care challenge within Central Wisconsin. They have partnered with Dream Up! Langlade County as the host and managing entity of the Adopt A Provider needs list for both Langlade and Lincoln Counties.