For Letty, child care is about more than a place to spend the day.

Leticia “Letty” Virrueta spent 22 years working with children at Oregon Child Development Coalition before taking a leap toward a dream of her own: opening Early Bird Child Care in Sandy, Oregon.

A place where language and culture belong

For Letty, offering care in both Spanish and English is personal. She understands that many families want their children to learn and grow in two languages while staying connected to their heritage. At Early Bird, culture and language are part of everyday life — through conversation, play, and the relationships children build.

Learning to build a business

Starting her own child care program meant learning new skills beyond the classroom: staffing, enrollment, finances, and running a small business. Letty sought out training, business advice, and community support. First Children's Finance helped her navigate the Oregon Child Care Infrastructure Fund application process, and its Spanish-language learning opportunities helped her build confidence as a business owner.

With support from Business Oregon's Child Care Infrastructure Program, Letty was able to add an outdoor playground so children could have more room to play, explore, and discover.

Why she keeps going

As a mother of five, Letty knows how much trust it takes to leave a child in someone else's care. Her experiences as a working parent shaped the promise she wanted Early Bird to offer: attentive care, a welcoming home environment, and a place where children feel they belong.

She also dreams of one day opening a larger child care center. For now, her focus is on the children and families who walk through Early Bird's doors every day.