Our History

Before 1988, the Child Development Center was in the nursery area of the First United Methodist Church-Little Rock serving around 75 children.  The present site of the CDC was an auto parts store, which the church bought to "tear down" and "put up a parking lot."  Due to the inspiration of a creative lady (Mary Katherine Raper) and a visionary committee, a request was made to the Senior Pastor to build a day care center on the property instead, and the rest, they say, is history!  Members of FUMC went in debt $2.5 million dollars to build the current facility which opened in March 1988.  In 1991, Richard Butler endowed the Center $250,000 and the building was named the Gertrude Remmel Butler Child Development Center of First United Methodist Church-Little Rock.  Mr. Butler served on the Budget Committee for many years, setting the tone for the future and ensuring that its programs would remain viable and stable for generations of working parents in downtown Little Rock.  Volunteers continue to serve the Center.