THE HISTORY OF UMBRELLA

Umbrella Central Day Care Services (a non-profit organization) was established in 1978 to provide administrative services to non-profit day care programmes thereby increasing the quality, stability and cost efficiency of the day care community.

Membership fees, private sponsors, convention child care, and strongly committed volunteers have allowed Umbrella to survive through the years and it has continued to serve the day care community through some challenging times.

In 1981, the membership of Umbrella was 65 child care programmes. We now have 325 members. This represents about 15,000 families and about 3,400 staff persons.  In 1993, we became a direct service organization through the MCSS conversion projects and Umbrella now operates a number of our own Childcare Centers.  As Ontario's demand for quality, affordable child care grows, so the day care community looks to Umbrella for support, professionalism, and commitment.

Umbrella's ever growing membership is expected to continue to climb.  We are involved in consultation and education in many areas of Ontario to promote financially accessible, quality child care by non-profit providers. Umbrella has grown to be a viable operation, providing essential, cost saving administrative services, resources, research, education, and support for the whole day care community. Together, we share in the caring.