Child Care Appreciation Event - Sponsors Needed!

Dear Local Business Owners/Managers,
 

A planning committee, comprised of staff from Benton County, Sherburne County, First Children’s Finance, Greater St. Cloud, Milestones, and United Way, are pleased to announce that we will be hosting a Child Care Appreciation Event for licensed in-home providers in Benton and Sherburne Counties on September 12, 2026.

 

In recent years, the number of in-home licensed childcare providers has declined by approximately 25% in both Benton and Sherburne Counties since 2019. Previous childcare provider surveys suggest contributing factors, such as long working hours, mental strain, behavioral challenges with children, difficulty maintaining work-life balance, the demands of licensing requirements, and a lack of benefits.

According to the 2025 Child Care Needs Summary from First Children’s Finance, an estimated 3,973 additional childcare spots are needed across the two counties. The impact of this shortage is being felt throughout the region. A 2023 United Way of Central Minnesota survey found that 24% of parents across Central Minnesota have withdrawn from the workforce or declined employment opportunities due to inadequate childcare arrangements.
 

To address the childcare crisis, the primary goal of this event is to promote the retention of existing childcare providers by recognizing their essential role and helping them feel valued by the communities they serve. Childcare providers are a vital asset to family well-being and the local economy.

A secondary goal is to support the recruitment of new providers by inviting individuals interested in opening their own childcare businesses and connecting them with experienced providers and available resources.
 

If you choose to contribute, your donation will directly benefit this event. Funds will be used to sponsor the

event, which will include a catered breakfast, training, access to community resources, networking with peers and professionals, and appreciation giveaways. We anticipate having 100+ attendees at the event.

To show our appreciation for the support and donations from businesses, we have created the following sponsorship levels:
 

Gold Sponsorship: $500+

· Corporate name or logo prominently displayed at event check in and on event flyer

· Public announcement of organization sponsorship at event

· Social media post announcing organization sponsorship after event
 

Silver Sponsorship: $250-$499

· Corporate name listed on event flyer

· Social media post announcing organization sponsorship after event

Bronze Sponsorship: $100-$249

· Corporate name listed on event flyer