Barrett Daycare Center: Funding

Since it opened in 1935, the Barrett Daycare Center has received funding from various sources. From January 1941 until January 16, 1943, the center was funded by the Works Project Administration.

When this program was liquidated by order of the President of the United States, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the members of the school board appealed directly to the State of Virginia for funding and succeeded in gaining the support of the Department of Public Welfare. After the WPA funds were liquidated, the center relied on contributions from sponsors such as the Child Welfare Association and the United Givers Fund, as well as local and private donations.

In December 1942, the Barrett Daycare received notice that all WPA funds would be liquidated as of January 16, 1943. At this point, members of the daycare board, along with members of the Belmont Day Nursery, met with the Charlottesville City School Board. The board members decided to close the Belmont Nursery and continue the Barrett Daycare Nursery.

On February 8, 1943, the members of the board of the Barrett Daycare developed a constitution that stated both the goals and the projected needs of the daycare.

In order to reach the citizens of Charlottesville, the board members organized a number of activities, including a radio promotion, which was intended to raise funds from the community.

In addition to state and local funds, the Barrett Daycare Center relied partially on the parents' tuition. There was a regular tuition charge of one dollar a week per child. In a number of cases, mothers who could not afford to pay full tuition were able to divide the cost with their employer. For mothers who were unable to afford to send their child to the daycare, there was a scholarship committee that investigated their case, and on the basis of the committee's recommendation, whole or partial scholarships were granted.