Ten Twin Cities-based companies embraced that commitment in a new way today by celebrating the opening of the area's first backup child care facility. Children First at Gaviidae Common, at 651 Nicollet Mall, provides backup child care to the employees of these 10 companies. It is the first of Children First 's 20 centers nationwide to open at full capacity. Children First centers are designed to provide parents and their children with the highest quality care. The centers serve children from 12 weeks to 12 years, with a range of developmentally appropriate activities and materials.
Staff are early childhood professionals, many of whom have earned master's degrees.
The celebration this morning included remarks by Rosemary Jordano, Children First CEO and founder, and Gail Dorn, vice president of communications and community relations for Dayton Hudson Corp. and Target Stores. Parents and CEOs discussed general trends in the workplace as well as how backup childcare helps companies and several children shared a project they are working on in the classrooms. We understand the increasing demands of balancing professional and family lives, and are pleased to be able to offer this benefit to our team members. Knowing their children are receiving the highest quality care gives working parents peace of mind and helps them to be more effective at work. Rosemary Jordano, who founded Children First in 1992, explained that the breakdown of an employee's primary care system directly affects the corporate bottom line.