Situated within view of the Amway Arena's north entrance, most ODN families come from the Parramore and West Orlando neighborhoods.
ODN’s program for young children, serves a diverse client base of around 245 families with a total of 310 children per year.
ODN provides
a developmentally appropriate childcare program and enriching preschool learning experience at reduced rates to families living in
or near poverty in Central Florida to instill compassion, build strong characters and prepare children (ages 0-5 years) for school
readiness, healthy living and sustainable livelihoods as adults in order to build a more flourishing community.
Orlando Facility on Lake Dot
The year was 1921 and World War I had ended a few years earlier. Some civic-minded women formed the Orlando Day Nursery for the sake
of working widows left with young children to support.
About Us
A Little Bit of History....
Very likely, at least one woman founding the nursery was the wife of a gentlemen working to establish the Kiwanis Club of Orlando
that same year. A natural association between the two organizations has existed all these years.
In late 2005, the Kiwanis Club of
Orlando went beyond simple donations, or acting as a safety net, to purchase land and construct a state-of-the-art childcare facility,
specifically for ODN's program.
What We Do for the Community....
ODN's MISSION is....
"To make a positive impact on the present and future downtown Orlando community by providing quality and affordable childcare and early childhood education services for the young children of low-income families."
Our Board of Directors
OFFICERS:
Richard Ahl Jr., President
Lorraine A. Notice,
Vice President
Amy Rigdon, Esquire,
Secretary
Shane Crain
Treasurer
DIRECTORS:
Rehji
Barrett
Stephen Dinon
Michael L. Green
Steven Kirby
Joni J. Meyers
John R. Murdock
David Theophilus
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR:
Mata Dennis
Walking Toward Lake Dot
Since Orlando was booming from its land speculation and citrus grove industries, some of the mothers probably went to work in orange groves or packing houses. These worksites, certainly, were not the right environments for toddlers to spend their days, and something had to be done for the children.
Orange County Mayor, Rich Crotty with Toddlers at ODN