In 1976, the Children’s Center of Knoxville (CCK) opened its doors with a simple but profound mission: to provide every child in our community with a safe, compassionate place to learn and grow.

This year, we celebrate our 50th Anniversary. As we look back at five decades of first steps, first words, and bright futures, we are also looking forward to the future.

To ensure our current students stay in the classrooms where they are thriving, we are launching our Golden Anniversary Giving Campaign.

Whether you are a local business leader or a "CCK Alum" family, there is a place for you in our story.

The Golden Hearts: Individual Giving
We believe that a few friends giving a little can change everything. Join our "Golden Hearts" circle with a gift that fits your legacy:

Community Helper ($25): Supports daily classroom stability.
Classroom Sponsor ($50): Helps bridge part of a child’s weekly funding gap.
Create a Path ($180): Helps sustain a child’s care for about one month.

Make your impact lasting through sustainable giving.

Class of 1976 ($19.76/month): Provides community and program stability.
Compassion Circle ($500 or $42/month): Helps sustain a child’s care for a portion of the year.
The Golden Heart Club ($1,800 or $150/month): Sustain a child’s care for the entire year.

Corporate & Leadership Sponsorships

For our partners looking to make a transformative impact, we offer tiered sponsorship opportunities for our 50th Anniversary that are tied to our Through the Decades event taking place September 18, 2026.

Through the Decades Event Presenting Sponsor ($50,000): Our highest honor. Includes "Presented by" branding for all of 2026, temporary naming rights to a key area (like our playground), and up to 20 tickets to our Through the Decades event with podium recognition.
The 1976 Founders Circle ($25,000): Funds the "Founders’ Scholarship" for one child for an entire year. Includes prominent website branding and a full-page color ad in the Through the Decades event program, as well as up to 10 tickets to the event.
Classroom Champion ($10,000): Supports multiple children and offsets funding reductions for an entire classroom. Includes logo placement on all event invitations and up to 10 Through the Decades event tickets.
Community Advocate ($5,000): A leadership gift funding a full scholarship placement. Includes up to 6 Through the Decades event tickets and quarterly recognition in our CCK newsletter.
Friends of the Children ($1,976): A nod to our founding year. Includes up to 4 Through the Decades event tickets and a "Friend of CCK" certificate to display at your place of business.

Why It Matters Today

Reliable childcare strengthens our local economy and ensures our neighbors can stay in the workforce. For 50 years, we have ensured that circumstances of birth do not determine a child’s opportunity to succeed. Your gift—at any level—ensures we never have to turn a child away.

Will you help us celebrate 50 years by investing in the next 50?

With 50 years of gratitude,

The Children’s Center of Knoxville Team

ABOUT CHILDREN’S CENTER OF KNOXVILLE

The Children’s Center of Knoxville, Inc., is a 501C(3) non-profit childcare center located in the heart of Knoxville, TN. Since 1976, our mission has been to serve the community at large with open arms and provide exceptional childcare while preparing each child to be their unique selves. Each year we serve approximately 100 families while upholding our mission to ensure that at least 30 percent or more of our enrollment supports low-income and at-risk families. Learn more and get involved at thechildrenscenterofknoxville.org.

Through the Decades: 50 Years of Children's Center of Knoxville

By The Children's Center of Knoxville, Inc.

Through the Decades: 50 Years of Children's Center of Knoxville

Let's celebrate 50 years of service and the children who inspire it!

Team Members