While the Run for the Roses takes place on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs in Louisville, we’ll be cheering on a different Derby in Atlanta. The Children’s Development Academy(CDA) enjoys a rich history of broad support, built over the past five decades. Focused on low-income working families in their community, the CDA can serve 156 children each day ages 12 months through 5 years in their full-day early care and learning program, including three Georgia Pre-K classes.

Proceeds from the event provide scholarships to children whose families might not otherwise be able to afford high-quality early education.

Live viewing of the Kentucky Derby, games, dancing and festive cocktails and fabulous food by Chef Derek Dollar of Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails, and of course, our award-winning Bourbons. Join us Shannondale Farm on Saturday, May 2. 

The CDA is NAEYC-accredited (National Association for the Education of Young Children), the highest level of accreditation available to any education program, with a curriculum committed to preparing children to be “ready by five” for school success.

In July 2015, the CDA received the highest rating of three stars from Georgia’s Quality Rated program. The Quality Rated system was designed so that any parent selecting a program participating in Quality Rated can feel confident that they are enrolling their child in a program that is committed to continuous quality improvement and higher quality standards.