Megan Payne saw a need for reliable childcare in her community and decided to step in. The former Colorado FBLA Flagler High School member created The Daycare Delivery for her Business Achievement Award (BAA) Capstone Project, which won the award in 2021.
When asked what inspired her project, she pointed directly to a problem she witnessed every day.
“I created The Daycare Delivery, a fully planned and launched daycare program designed to address a major challenge in my rural community: inconsistent childcare,” she explained. “After seeing teachers bring their children to school due to limited local options and speaking with families and our superintendent, I identified a serious need for reliable daycare for children ages 0 to 4.”
What started as an observation quickly became a heartfelt mission. Rather than stopping at identifying the problem, she led a project resulting in the planning, funding, and community support needed to design a solution that would last.
“I led a team to develop a sustainable solution, an on-site daycare program built around two main goals: meeting licensing standards to open by 2022 and constructing a safe outdoor play space supporting early childhood development,” she shared.
To make that vision a reality, she relied on the very business and leadership skills she developed through FBLA. The team used professional planning tools and systems to stay organized and accountable.
“Using a structured planning system, we developed a full project proposal, budget, Trello-managed timeline, fundraising plan, and grant strategy,” she said. In total, the team raised around $60,000 with contributions through grants and community fundraisers.
Starting as a FBLA BAA Capstone Project, The Daycare Delivery continues to support nearly 70 parents, children, and staff directly. The initiative not only supports parents and children in the community, it also promotes local economic growth.
“The impact reached far beyond the immediate families we served,” she noted. “Hundreds more in the community benefited from improved workforce stability, new jobs, and strengthened local economic growth.”
While the community gained a much-needed resource, she gained invaluable leadership experience in the process. Navigating funding challenges, staffing needs, and long-term sustainability taught lessons that no classroom alone could provide.
“Through the project, I learned how to manage a diverse team, navigate real-world obstacle like funding and staffing, and communicate professionally to achieve a shared goal,” she reflected. “This experience helped me build confidence, develop leadership skills, and form meaningful connections while creating a long-term, community-centered solution that continues to support families today.”
Megan’s story is a powerful example of how FBLA empowers students to lead with purpose. The Daycare Delivery stands as a lasting reminder that student-led projects, like the BAA Capstone Project, can transform communities and help shape the next generation of business and community leaders.
