The Tamara M. Sparks Early Learning Center
We Believe All Children Deserve a Strong Start.
Half of Colorado’s children live in a child care desert, where only one child care slot is available for three or more children. In some instances, no child care is available at all. Mile High United Way is committed to improving Colorado’s child care landscape.
We have adapted to meet one of our community’s greatest needs by converting our conference center into a best-in-class early childhood education center. The center at our headquarters in Five Points will be the hub of our United for Families program. This investment will also create a place for workforce development training and provide wraparound support for families.
Join The Grand Opening Celebration!
We recently recognized Paul and Sue Sparks for their transformational $1 million gift to Mile High United Way’s new early childhood center. We cannot wait to welcome families to The Tamara M. Sparks Early Learning Center at Mile High United Way, named in honor of Paul’s mother, Tamara. The center is scheduled to open in just a few short weeks — and you’re invited to join us!
Community Grand Opening Celebration
Saturday, May 18, 2024 | 9:30-11 a.m.
About The Center
Our longstanding partner Mile High Early Learning will provide education and care using a Montessori-inspired approach to learning.
- Nearly 60 high-quality child care slots for families with children ages 0-5.
- Five rooms: two for infants, two for toddlers and one for preschool-age children. Including a state-of-the-art playground.
- At least 70% of the slots for families eligible for Colorado Child Care Assistance Program.
- Workforce development opportunities for educators and wraparound support for families.
A Model For Change
Our unique approach to child care goes beyond increasing the number of child care slots. We focus on delivering a holistic ecosystem of support that empowers and uplifts children, parents and caregivers. Our goal is create a scalable model that can transform the child care sector in Colorado.
We focus on whole child and parent supports, ensuring families have the resources they need to thrive. Through our 211 Help Center, we connect families to critical resources, like SNAP enrollment, free tax preparation services, universal pre-k assistance, rental and utility assistance, and more. Through our HIPPY Home Visitor Program, we help parents support their child's learning at home.
We strive to make quality child care affordable for families through tuition subsidies and scholarships, and subsidies to allow for higher quality and lower class sizes.
We provide training, accreditation scholarships and salary subsidies beyond the current pay rate to support caregivers and improve the quality of child care programs. This includes training and resources to support the Family, Friend and Neighbor (FFN) providers who care for nearly 60% of young children in Colorado.
Meet Yazmin & RubEn
Yazmin, a mom of two, was connected to our United for Families and HIPPY program when her son Ruben was struggling with a speech delay. Yazmin found a community of coaches and parents who helped her support Ruben’s development. Ruben is now thriving! Watch the video to learn more about their journey and the impact of high-quality early education.
"We work on fine motor skill, gross motor skill, reading, literature...With the HIPPY program, he has excelled."
Transformational Investments
Mile High United Way is also investing in four ECE centers across Metro Denver to help reach our 2025 goals and create transformational change in our community.
2025 GOALS
- 750 child care slots created across Metro Denver
- 80% of created slots in use
- 70% of utilized slots used by CCCAP-eligible families
Invest In Our Future
By investing in our United for Families program, you can help us scale our services to new neighborhoods and also meet the needs of the families we serve at our ECE center. Together, we can build a stronger, more vibrant community where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Complete the following form to learn more.
The Tamera M. Sparks Early Learning Center is in partnership with:
Thank you to our investors
You are changing the odds for children and families in our community.
