Most employers want to help their staff afford child care, but figuring out where to start often stops them cold. A Northeast Ohio nonprofit just proved there’s a workable path — and the national recognition to show for it.
Before an audience of roughly 300 child care leaders and industry peers from across the U.S., Starting Point was awarded the Platinum WINGS Award, the top prize at the 2026 TOOTRiS WINGS Summit. The organization was recognized for a model that helps employers double their child care contributions for working parents by pairing company investment with matching state funds.
The winning initiative, dubbed “Child Care Benefit for a Thriving Workforce and Economy,” links employers to a dollar-for-dollar match from the Ohio Department of Children and Youth through the MidTown Child Care Benefit Fund. That public-private approach aims to make care more affordable for families while giving businesses a more stable, dependable workforce.
Starting Point’s role goes beyond simply connecting the dots. The nonprofit helps participating companies design and administer their child care benefits — from setting contribution levels and determining employee eligibility to managing the benefit and delivering reports to HR teams. Its staff also assists employees in finding local child care options that align with their family needs.
“Employers want to help their teams with Child Care, but many don’t know where to begin,” said Nancy Mendez, President and CEO of Starting Point. “This gives them a practical way to contribute, doubles the value of that investment and gives working parents a real person to help them find care.”
The award came after a national search for innovative approaches already making a difference on the ground. TOOTRiS selected six finalists to present at WINGS, giving each organization seven minutes to showcase its strategy and impact. Attendees voted to pick the winners, with more than $10,000 in funding and support distributed through the program.
Starting Point rose to the top in a vote by an audience intimately familiar with the struggle to make child care more accessible and affordable in their own communities.
“When a parent has dependable Child Care, the impact reaches far beyond that family. It strengthens a workplace, supports a provider and helps an entire community move forward,” said Alessandra Lezama, CEO of TOOTRiS. “Starting Point brings those interests together and makes every employer dollar go further. Their work gives other communities something tangible to build on.”
Starting Point serves families, child care providers, and employers across Northeast Ohio, including Cuyahoga, Lake, Geauga, and Ashtabula counties. Its employer services pair local market knowledge with personalized referrals and benefit administration, so businesses can support working parents without shouldering the administrative burden themselves.
The 2026 TOOTRiS WINGS Summit took place September 14–16 at the Coronado Island Marriott Resort & Spa, drawing leaders from more than 40 states and Washington, D.C. Through presentations, peer discussions, and the WINGS Awards Showcase, attendees exchanged practical solutions to the challenges facing families, providers, employers, and child care systems nationwide.
For more information about Starting Point’s employer child care services, visit starting-point.org.
About Starting Point:
Starting Point connects families in Northeast Ohio with child care, education, and out-of-school-time programs. The organization supports child care providers and collaborates with employers and community partners to expand access to care and help children succeed in school and beyond.
About TOOTRiS:
TOOTRiS is the nation’s largest child care platform, partnering with employers, providers, government agencies, and Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) organizations to strengthen local child care ecosystems, amplify community-based initiatives, and make care more accessible, equitable, and sustainable — empowering parents, supporting providers, and fueling economic growth. Learn more at tootris.com.
Jeff McAdam
TOOTRIS
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Why it matters: This award highlights a replicable model where public dollars and private employer contributions combine to tackle one of the most pressing workforce challenges families face today. If more regions adopt this kind of matching-fund approach, the ripple effects could be felt in workplace retention, provider stability, and community economic health nationwide.
