1Daycare · Ages 0 to 5
Daycare
Loved. Nurtured. Safe. A strong start, together.
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The Grateful Grandkids Leadership Journey
From Dreamers toWorld Changers
Leadership is not a position. It is a lifelong journey. Every child enters the world carrying a unique purpose, and we help that purpose grow into leadership, stewardship, and lasting impact.
Twelve intentional levels. One identity: World Changer.
Click any photo to hear its story
6 wks–12 yrs
Ages we serve
6:30a – 6:00p
Open weekdays
CCAP & DCFS
Assistance welcome
Meals
Included daily
Our Leadership Continuum
Three Stages. One Journey.
Twelve intentional levels, grouped into three stages of growth, each equipping children to transform families, communities, and ultimately the world.
Daycare · Ages 0 to 5
Building the Foundation
Where character begins
The earliest years are where character begins. Children develop trust, curiosity, imagination, confidence, and the courage to explore the world around them. Every lesson becomes another building block for the leader they will become.
DreamerDiscovererExplorerBuilderInnovatorTrailblazer
Focus
Building trust, confidence, creativity, and the joy of learning.
Building trust, confidence, creativity, and the joy of learning.
School Age · Ages 6 to 12
Becoming a Leader
Leadership is service
In our Rising Leaders program, children discover that leadership is not about being in charge, it is about serving others. Through mentorship, service projects, and real opportunities to lead, they learn that their actions influence the people around them.
AchieverLeaderLegacy Builder
Focus
Developing character, responsibility, teamwork, and leadership through service.
Developing character, responsibility, teamwork, and leadership through service.
Preparatory · Ages 13 to 18
Becoming a Change Maker
Leadership becomes purpose
This is our MPowered Youth phase. Students connect their gifts to real-world problems. Through entrepreneurship, financial literacy, community service, and SSTAR, our Sustainable Skills Training and Recovery model, they learn real skills they can build on and earn income from as they rebuild their lives. The journey culminates in the Transitional Housing MAXIMIZED! (THM) model, preparing them to become Compassionate Investors who create housing that changes lives.
Change MakerVisionaryWorld Changer
Focus
Purpose. Stewardship. Service. Ownership. Impact.
Purpose. Stewardship. Service. Ownership. Impact.
The Circle of Impact
Generation Lifting Generation
Here is how impact is really made. Our children are poured into by seniors, and they pour right back. That two-way exchange, generation lifting generation, is what grows a world-changing mindset.
Seniors Pour In
Through Golden Connections, our elders share wisdom, patience, and belief, giving children a foundation of love and stability that no curriculum can teach on its own.
Children Grow
Known and nurtured, children move through the Leadership Journey, learning to dream, discover, serve, and lead with purpose.
Children Pour Back
They give seniors purpose, connection, and joy, and grow up to care for their elders and the next generation coming up behind them.
And the circle turns again. Gratitude becomes action, compassion becomes culture, and a legacy is built that never ends.
The Destination
Every Child Is Becoming a World Changer
We are not simply educating children. We are raising leaders. Like a martial artist earning each belt, every student grows through twelve intentional levels toward one identity: someone who leads with integrity, serves with compassion, and leaves every community stronger than they found it.
World Changer
Programs & Services
Care and Learning for Every Age
From six weeks old through age twelve, one trusted setting where children grow, discover, and lead.
6 weeks – 23 months
Infants & Toddlers
Nurturing, low-ratio care with responsive routines, language-rich play, and daily family communication.
2 – 5 years
Preschool & Pre-K
Hands-on discovery, social skills, and a creative, play-based curriculum that prepares children for kindergarten.
K – 12 & Summer
School Age & Leadership Lab
Before and after school care, homework support, summer adventures, and our signature Leadership Lab.
Join the Family
We build today. We invest in tomorrow. We leave a legacy that lasts.
Whether you are enrolling a child, mentoring as an elder, or partnering to grow the vision, there is a place for you in this village.
The Founder's Heart
It takes a village to raise a child.
Grateful Grandkids Learning Academy is my answer to that truth, a place where children are not simply cared for, but raised up: seen, loved, challenged, and prepared to lead. The name carries the heart of the vision. Grandparents and elders love differently. They are patient, they are grateful, and they hand down wisdom that no curriculum can teach on its own.
By bringing generations together under one roof, we give children the steady, unconditional belief in them that changes the trajectory of a life. This Academy is the beginning of a much larger continuum, designed to walk alongside a child from daycare all the way to adulthood, and ultimately to help young people, including those aging out of foster care, reach real independence and ownership of their futures.
Toni T. Wade, Founder and Executive Director
Our Philosophy
Intergenerational and Strengths Based
We integrate the wisdom of elders with the vitality of youth to create compassionate, confident, and capable leaders.
Relationships First
When a child has a dependable adult to trust and confide in, that child is far more likely to thrive at school and in life.
Learning Through Play
Hands-on discovery, creative expression, and real relationships in warm, inviting indoor and outdoor spaces.
Whole-Family Support
An open-door policy, family engagement nights, and connection to community resources, because a child thrives when the whole family is supported.
Rooted in Gratitude
Elders model patience and gratitude, and children learn early that being cared for and caring for others are the same lesson.
The Leadership Journey
From Dreamers to World Changers
At Grateful Grandkids, leadership is not a position, it is a process. Every child carries a seed of greatness that is nurtured through gratitude, intentional relationships, experiences, and reflection. From their earliest steps to young adulthood, our students move through a transformational continuum, learning to dream, discover, explore, build, innovate, and lead with purpose.
Daycare · Ages 0 to 5
Building the Foundation
The early years focus on nurturing curiosity, confidence, and courage, the roots of leadership that shape how a child learns, loves, and leads.
1
Dreamers
6 wks to 12 mos
Curiosity
Building trust, comfort, and wonder, the foundation for growth.
2
Discoverers
1 to 2 years
Confidence
Exploring freely while learning cause, effect, and connection.
3
Explorers
2 to 3 years
Courage
Taking first steps into independence, learning boundaries and expression.
4
Builders
3 years
Creativity
Developing imagination, teamwork, and problem-solving.
5
Innovators
4 years
Imagination
Using creativity to find solutions and take initiative.
6
Trailblazers
5 years
Initiative
Building leadership habits through routine, responsibility, and service.
School Age · Ages 6 to 12
Becoming a Leader
As children grow, they begin to see themselves as capable contributors. These years emphasize responsibility, integrity, and teamwork, the essential qualities of a future leader.
7
Achievers
6 to 8 years
Responsibility
Learning self-discipline, consistency, and pride in accomplishments.
8
Leaders
9 to 11 years
Integrity
Developing teamwork, communication, and conflict-resolution skills.
9
Legacy Builders
12 years
Vision
Applying leadership to community projects and mentoring younger students.
Preparatory · Ages 13 to 18
Becoming a Change Maker
At this stage, students move from learning about leadership to living it. They are guided to discover purpose, make values-based decisions, and serve through meaningful action.
10
Change Makers
13 to 14 years
Purpose
Understanding identity, values, and personal leadership calling.
11
Visionaries
15 to 16 years
Direction
Setting goals, building self-awareness, and taking ownership of their path.
12
World Changers
17 to 18 years
Service
Using leadership to serve others through projects, mentoring, and innovation.
Where the Journey Leads
From Self-Discovery to Servant Leadership
Each stage builds upon the next, creating a pathway from self-discovery to self-mastery. The journey culminates in real-world impact. Through SSTAR, our Sustainable Skills Training and Recovery model that teaches real skills people can build on and earn income from, and the Transitional Housing MAXIMIZED! (THM) model, our students become Compassionate Investors, creating housing that changes lives.
The Destination
Becoming a World Changer
The goal of Grateful Grandkids is not simply graduation. The goal is transformation. Just as a martial artist advances through each belt until earning the black belt, every student progresses through twelve intentional leadership levels until they earn the highest distinction in our journey.
World Changer
This is not another milestone. It is who they have become: someone who leads with integrity, serves with compassion, builds with purpose, and leaves every community stronger than they found it.
Graduation Is the Beginning
A World Changer Lives the Journey
A World Changer does not finish the journey. They live it. Leadership is no longer something they learn, it becomes who they are. They become the people who:
Mentor the next Dreamers.
Encourage the next Discoverers.
Inspire the next Explorers.
Invest in stronger families.
Build healthier communities.
Care for seniors with dignity.
Create businesses that solve problems.
Build housing that restores hope.
Lead with compassion.
Leave a legacy that outlives them.
Our Promise
We are not simply educating children.
We are raising leaders.
We are not simply preparing students for careers.
We are preparing them to steward lives.
We are not simply creating graduates.
We are developing World Changers.
The Grateful Grandkids Vision
Every Dreamer deserves someone who believes in them. Every Leader deserves someone who challenges them. Every World Changer becomes someone another child can follow.
That is how generations remain connected. That is how gratitude becomes action. That is how compassion becomes culture. That is how legacy is built.
The Heart of Our Mission
To become the kind of person the next generation wants to become.
This is the vision of Grateful Grandkids: a lifelong continuum where every generation invests in the next, creating a legacy of leadership, stewardship, compassion, and purpose that never ends.
Come see the village for yourself.
Schedule a visit, meet our team, and discover how your child can begin their leadership journey.
A Daughter of This Community
Born and raised to build right here.
Toni T. Wade is a product of the Champaign schools, and for more than two decades she has served this community directly, including as Chair of the Bradley Learning Center. Her years as an educator are the foundation that everything Grateful Grandkids is built upon.
Grateful Grandkids is her way of giving back to the community that raised her, and it is built in partnership with the Toni T. Wade Foundation.
The Vision God Gave Her
A vision she has carried since 1992.
In 1992, God gave Toni a vision: a Pre-K to 12 university with a boarding house and a boarding school for youth ages thirteen to eighteen. A place that prepares young people for everything that changes when they turn eighteen, that teaches them exactly what to do, and that equips them to be successful on every level. Grateful Grandkids is that vision, finally taking root.
What She Pours In
The lessons that build wealth, handed to the next generation.
The very strategies that allowed Toni to build a multimillion-dollar real estate portfolio are the lessons she is determined to pour into our young people. Her goal is that by the time they turn eighteen, they already carry the knowledge to build, to steward, and to stand on their own, prepared on every level to succeed.
"I want them to learn by eighteen what most people spend a lifetime trying to figure out, so they never have to start from behind."
The Work Behind the Vision
Two decades of building, teaching, and giving back.
Toni T. Wade is a lifelong educator and real estate investor known as The Compassionate Investor. Since 2009, through her company The HomeQuest Group, she has acquired and transformed millions of dollars in residential and commercial property and helped more than 400 individuals find stable housing and a real pathway toward independence.
Drawing on more than fifteen years of investing and decades in the classroom, she created Transitional Housing MAXIMIZED! and the Transitional Housing Hub, training platforms that teach mindset, financial literacy, real estate, and entrepreneurship. Those are the very skills she is now planting in the next generation through Grateful Grandkids. She also hosts the television show Live For Free and works with investors, agencies, and community leaders across the country to expand affordable housing and strengthen families.
B.S., Middle Grades Education, University of North Carolina
M.Ed., Educational Policy Studies, University of Illinois
Post-doctoral studies, Fielding Graduate University
SBA Emerging Leaders program graduate
Field Instructor, Brown School of Social Work, Washington University
Certified Minority- and Women-Owned Business since 2018
Beyond her work, Toni loves traveling, dancing, and spending time with her family.
Rooted in Gratitude
Everything begins with gratitude.
Toni believes everything starts with gratitude and giving back. From infancy, Grateful Grandkids teaches children to respect their elders, to understand the power of gratitude, and to grow up as pay-it-forward, mission-driven adults. That is how a grateful grandchild becomes a world changer, and how a community is built to last.
Build the Vision With Us
Help us plant something that outlives us all.
Grateful Grandkids, in partnership with the Toni T. Wade Foundation, is searching for its home in Champaign or Urbana. Enroll your child, mentor as an elder, or help us find the land to build on.
Learning Through Play
Discovery, creativity, and real relationships.
Children learn the way they are built to learn, through play, hands-on discovery, and creative expression. Our curriculum is aligned with Illinois Early Learning Standards and brought to life in warm, inviting indoor and outdoor spaces.
And through it all, the steady presence of elders is woven into the day, so every child grows up surrounded by patience, gratitude, and the belief that they are capable of great things.
Early Learning
Programs by Age
6 weeks – 14 months
Infant Care
Nurturing, low-ratio care with responsive routines and daily family communication, so your baby feels safe, held, and known from the very first day.Full Day
15 – 23 months
Toddler Care
Language-rich, play-based exploration and gentle guidance toward early self-regulation and confidence.Full Day
2 years
Two-Year-Old Program
Hands-on discovery, budding social skills, and creative expression in a warm, encouraging classroom.Full Day
3 – 5 years
Preschool & Pre-K
A creative, play-based curriculum aligned with Illinois Early Learning Standards that prepares children for a strong start in kindergarten.Full Day
K – 12
Before & After School
Transportation-friendly care with homework support, enrichment, and time in the Leadership Lab before and after the school day.School Year
School-age
Summer Program
Full days of outings, activities, field trips, and outdoor learning that keep summer joyful and full of growth.Summer
What Makes Us Different
Signature Programs
The heart of Grateful Grandkids, found in no other center in our area.
All Ages
Leadership Lab & Creative Corner
Signature spaces where the twelve-stage Leadership Journey comes to life through projects, creativity, and real responsibility.
All Ages
Intergenerational Activities
Structured programming that pairs children with community elders for storytelling, mentoring, and shared learning that lifts both generations.
Whole Family
Family Support Services
Resource navigation, family engagement nights, and community partnerships that connect families to housing, financial-literacy, and early-intervention support.
Ready to find your child's place?
Tell us a little about your family and we will help you find the right program and get started.
Our Core Team
Guided by Calling, Not Just Credentials
Meet the people who lead Grateful Grandkids. Teaching here is a calling that asks for compassion, consistency, and heart, and this team sets that tone for the whole village.
Founder & Executive Director
Toni T. Wade
Toni is the founder of Grateful Grandkids and a product of the Champaign schools, with more than two decades serving this community, including as Chair of the Bradley Learning Center. As Executive Director she sets the vision and stewards the mission across every stage of the journey.
Read Her Full Story
Holly York
Director
Leads the Academy day to day, setting a warm, consistent culture and keeping quality strong in every classroom.
Rosemary Wright
Intergenerational Coordinator
Leads Golden Connections, pairing our senior elders with children across the whole continuum for mentoring, storytelling, and shared learning.
Mark Hutchison
Rising Leaders · School Age
Leads our Rising Leaders program for school-age children, developing character, responsibility, teamwork, and servant leadership.
Matthew White
MPowered Youth · Preparatory
Leads our MPowered Youth program, equipping teens with the skills, stewardship, and purpose to reach real independence and ownership.
Staff at Every Level
A Dedicated Team for Each Stage of the Journey
Every stage of the Leadership Journey is guided by teachers and mentors trained for that age, all meeting or exceeding Illinois ratio, qualification, and training standards. Photos and names will be added as we welcome each educator aboard.
Daycare · Ages 0 to 5
Level 1
Dreamers
6 wks to 12 mos
Infant Lead & Assistant Teacher
Level 2
Discoverers
1 to 2 years
Toddler Lead & Assistant Teacher
Level 3
Explorers
2 to 3 years
Twos Lead & Assistant Teacher
Level 4
Builders
3 years
Preschool Lead & Assistant Teacher
Level 5
Innovators
4 years
Pre-K Lead & Assistant Teacher
Level 6
Trailblazers
5 years
Pre-K Lead & Assistant Teacher
School Age · Ages 6 to 12
Level 7
Achievers
6 to 8 years
Rising Leaders Team
Level 8
Leaders
9 to 11 years
Rising Leaders Team
Level 9
Legacy Builders
12 years
Rising Leaders Team
Preparatory · Ages 13 to 18
Level 10
Change Makers
13 to 14 years
MPowered Youth Team
Level 11
Visionaries
15 to 16 years
MPowered Youth Team
Level 12
World Changers
17 to 18 years
MPowered Youth Team
We are hiring warm, qualified educators and mentors for our founding classrooms. Join our team.
Called to raise up the next generation?
We are building a team of educators, mentors, and elders who believe every child carries a seed of greatness. There may be a place for you.
1
2Rising Leaders
School Age
Mentored. Encouraged. Growing stronger.
Read the story
3MPowered Youth · Ready to Lead
Preparatory
Equipped. Empowered. Preparing to pay it forward.
Read the story
4Golden Connections
Seniors
Respected. Supported. Living with purpose.
Read the story
The Circle Closes
Pay It Forward
Every generation lifts the one before it and the one after it. The child who was carried grows up to carry the next. Click to see how the whole circle turns.
Read the story
Where We Are Building First
We started at the tail end, on purpose.
The Learning Academy is the foundation, but the continuum was designed backward, beginning with the young people the world too often forgets. Our MPowered Youth pathway equips youth aging out of foster care with the Sustainable Skills Training and Recovery tools to reach real independence and ownership of their futures.
We are building this vision deliberately, one strong piece at a time, from daycare all the way up, so that no one ages out of care alone.
Be Part of the Vision
Recurring & Upcoming
Community Calendar
A sample of the gatherings that make us a family, not just a place to drop off a child. Dates are confirmed each season.
Monthly
3rd
Thurs
Thurs
Family Engagement Night
Dinner, learning, and connection for the whole family, plus updates from our parent board and time with teachers.
Weekly
Every
Wed
Wed
Grandfriends Story Circle
Community elders share stories, songs, and wisdom with our youngest learners in our signature intergenerational program.
Quarterly
Season
End
End
Leadership Lab Showcase
Children present the projects, creativity, and growth from their stage of the Leadership Journey to family and friends.
Monthly
1st
Sat
Sat
Community Open House & Tours
Meet our team, tour the classrooms, and learn about enrollment, CCAP, and how the continuum works.
June
Summer
Kickoff
Kickoff
Summer Kickoff & Outdoor Learning Day
A day of outdoor adventures, games, and family fun by the park and lake to launch our summer program.
November
Harvest
Gratitude & Harvest Gathering
A shared meal where children, families, and elders give thanks together, at the very heart of who we are.
December
Winter
Winter Legacy Celebration
Music, memories, and a look back at the year, honoring the growth of every child and the wisdom of every elder.
Want to be notified when new events and enrollment dates are announced? Join our mailing list.
How to Enroll
Four Simple Steps
1
Inquire & Tour
Reach out and schedule a visit. Meet our team, see the classrooms, and ask every question you have.
2
Apply & Reserve
Complete a short application to reserve your child's place. We will confirm availability by age group and start date.
3
Enrollment Paperwork
We help you complete enrollment, medical, and immunization records, and set up CCAP or assistance if you qualify.
4
Start & Belong
Begin with a warm onboarding for your family and your child steps into their leadership journey.
Access for Every Family
We Remove the Barriers
Quality care should not depend on income. Grateful Grandkids is built to serve the families who need us most.
Childcare Assistance (CCAP)
We proudly accept the Childcare Assistance Program so cost is not a barrier to great care.
DCFS, Foster & Teen Parents
We partner with foster, DCFS-involved, and teen-parent programs to support families in transition.
Extended Hours
Open 6:30 AM to 6:00 PM with summer and school-break coverage, built around working schedules.
Meals Included
Nutritious meals and snacks are provided on site through the Child and Adult Care Food Program.
Grateful Grandkids Learning Academy is preparing to open its first suite, licensed for up to 74 children. Enrollment for our founding classrooms is opening soon. Join the interest list today and we will contact you with tour and start dates.
Send Us a Message
We respond to every message personally. Tell us how we can help.
Finding Our Home
We are actively searching for our campus home in Champaign or Urbana. If you know of at least 20 acres available to build on, please reach out through the form. We would love to talk.
Hours
Monday – Friday
6:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Founder & Executive Director
Toni T. Wade
Enrollment for our founding classrooms is opening soon. Reach out to join the interest list and be first to hear tour and start dates.