UVA announces $43.4M gift toward early childhood learning center

The University of Virginia (UVA) announced a $43.4 million gift from alumni Kathleen and David LaCross to establish an early childhood learning center in Charlottesville. This donation, the largest in the School of Education and Human Development’s history, will support a facility designed to provide cutting-edge instructional and developmental care for children under age 5. The center plans to enroll over 100 children, with tuition-free access for low-income families and paid tuition for others. The initiative aligns with research emphasizing the critical importance of early education for children under 5, aiming to reduce gaps in school readiness tied to family income. UVA students will gain practical experience through the center, preparing them for careers in early childhood education. The LaCrosses, both UVA graduates, stated the center will also create local jobs and serve as a national model for high-quality early learning. The gift includes an additional $5 million to establish the LaCross University Professorship in Early Childhood Education, with combined university matching funds totaling $10 million. This professorship will further strengthen UVA’s expertise in early childhood development. The LaCrosses have previously supported UVA through initiatives like the LaCross Institute for Ethical Artificial Intelligence in Business, the Forum Hotel, and LaCross Botanical Gardens. The center’s development reflects the LaCross family’s commitment to leveraging UVA’s resources to address educational disparities and improve outcomes for children and families in Charlottesville. Kathy LaCross, who earned her psychology degree from UVA in 1976, emphasized the long-term benefits of early educational investments for children’s success in school and life.