Educational Childcare Center to Open in North Center

Children’s Lighthouse Learning Centers, widely recognized as a leading early-educational childcare provider in the United States, has signed a franchise agreement with Scott Waltenburg to open a new location on Chicago’s Northside. Projected to open in the 2nd quarter of 2015, the new learning center will be located at 2600 W. Irving Park Rd. in Chicago’s North Center neighborhood.

“There is no denying the demand for educational childcare here in Chicago. More than ever, parents are putting a high priority on placing their children in an engaging environment where fun and learning come together,” said Waltenburg. “I can’t wait for families in the community to experience the Children’s Lighthouse difference.”

Prior to signing an agreement with Children’s Lighthouse, Waltenburg honed his entrepreneurial skills by founding Waltenburg Holdings, LLC, a Northbrook-based holding company. An investment in Pump it Up, a children’s birthday party venue, piqued his interest in early childhood education.

The new center will offer classroom and group activity settings, including ample play area both inside and outside the facility, and will provide on-site meal services. Children’s Lighthouse Learning Centers serves families with children from just six weeks old to six years old. In addition to childcare during traditional school hours, the new Northside Chicago center will provide before and after-school programs and summer camps for local elementary school students.

Children’s Lighthouse Learning Centers are safe and secure environments that give parents peace of mind, including online video links to rooms, computerized building entry, security monitoring and transportation to and from area elementary schools.

“In my opinion, Children’s Lighthouse will fill a growing need in the community. We will be providing parents a place where they can feel confident that their kids are safe and secure,” Waltenburg noted. “With children of my own, I know just how much this sense of security means.”

Children’s Lighthouse is on a rapid ascent to the top of the educational childcare industry, and franchise investors are taking notice. The wave of momentum that carried Children’s Lighthouse through 2013 includes adding new schools in key U.S. markets that grew its footprint by nearly 70 percent.

Along with the forthcoming Chicago center, 20 new Children’s Lighthouse Learning Centers are in development and/or construction, preparing to join the 40 that are already operating. Additional schools are planned for California, Florida, Kansas, North Carolina, New Jersey, Virginia and Texas.

“We are growing into new communities with talented individuals like Scott who share our passion for community, nurturing care and education,” said Pat Brown, president and co-founder of Children’s Lighthouse Learning Centers. “We couldn’t be happier about adding our first school in Chicago and doing so with an entrepreneur as gifted as Scott. With his qualifications, Children’s Lighthouse has a bright future in the region.”

Launched 17 years ago, Children’s Lighthouse provides entrepreneurs with the opportunity to open in attractive metropolitan areas. Ownership in a Children’s Lighthouse franchise includes a full suite of support services, including site selection, financing guidance, construction administration, and grand opening marketing best practices. Children’s Lighthouse’s initial and ongoing training and support is led by an experienced team of childcare veterans, providing the franchise owner invaluable insight and leadership for the entire life of the franchise.

About Children’s Lighthouse
Established in Ft. Worth, Texas in 1995, Children’s Lighthouse Learning Centers is the leading values-based educational childcare system in the United States. The company has approximately 250 employees at its company headquarters and eight company-owned centers. Currently, Children’s Lighthouse has 40 centers in operation and 20 additional franchise locations in the pipeline. Children’s Lighthouse has been named one of the “Best Places to Work” by the Dallas Business Journal, and has received the “Franchise 500” designation by Entrepreneur magazine due to its stability, financial strength, and growth. For more information about Children’s Lighthouse Learning Centers, visit www.childrenslighthouse.com or childrenslighthousefranchise.com