COLLIER COUNTY, Fla.- Arthrex Inc. donated $2500 to Collier Child Care Resources, to help families with child care costs.

The non-profit operates three child care centers in the county.

The money will offer tuition assistance for children attending the NCEF Early Childhood Development Center on the Collier campus of Edison State College.

Danielle is a teacher there, and her 3-year-old daughter Marissa also attends school there. She says she is grateful for the donation. "Relieved, I don't believe I could do it if we didn't have scholarship money here. For the parents as well as the employees."

Tuition to attend the school is about $185-$210 a week, and about 70% of the 105 kids benefit from scholarships.

Danielle says, "it puts them (the kids) in a very good, safe environment where they can flourish, otherwise who knows where the children might be if they didn't have that money to support them."

Dianne Reed with Collier County Child Resources says they depend on the help, especially when times are tough. She says, "sometimes the funding is unpredictable. And we want to ensure the money is always there for tuition assistance. In today's economy, it's unreliable. People don't know from one day to the next if they are even going to have a job."

The donation from Arthrex will also go toward programs for teen moms and their kids at Immokalee and Golden Gate High Schools.

Arthrex is now part of the 'Collier Child Care Resources Business 100,' as the organization looks for 100 businesses to donate at least $500 to the organization. So far, 20 have donated.

For more information about CCCR, you can call 239-643-3908 or visit their website, at www.collierchildcare.org.