Founded in 1996, ALCD is a non-profit 501(c3) charity organization located in Huntsville, Alabama. The mission of ALCD is to provide a safe, affordable high quality child care in a developmentally appropriate environment for preschool and school age children. Under the leadership of ALCD‘s founder and daily full-time director (Dr. Sylvia Collins), ALCD provides stimulating early care and an educational experience which promotes each child’s individual social/emotional, physical and cognitive development. The curriculum is second to none. Our students learn Spanish, Russian, Sign Language as well as other school preparation skills. Our goal is to support children’s desire to be life-long learners. Students develop character by practicing honesty, cooperation, patience, responsibility, generosity and caring among other values. In addition, ALCD promotes the values of tolerance, respect and appreciation of diversity. ALCD assists low-income parents by providing services based on the family’s ability to pay. Children from battered homes, veterans, and homeless families are admitted into our program free of charge. We offer our services to the community so that low-income parents can obtain meaningful careers and further their educations. Our organization works with low wealth families on a daily basis, providing them with the child care needed so that the parents may work and free themselves from dependence on government assistance. According to the national census bureau 26.28% (2015) of families living in our communities are at or below the federal poverty level. ALCD provides the incentive for the under served to work and bring home a sustainable amount of their income. These families need affordable childcare to make working feasible. It is our belief that (in this country) people can start at minimum wage and pull themselves up by the boot straps by applying hard work and a strong work ethic.