Exploring Life & Business with Lilly Price of Lilly’s Pad child care center

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lilly Price.

Lilly, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My name is Lilly Price. In 2007 I landed my first job as a case manager for a mental health agency here in Stark County. I was a single mom of two working and going to school to finish my bachelors and eventually my Master’s in 2017. I graduated with a Masters in leadership from Malone University with 17 years of experience in social work and DD services. At that time I also began my journey working at our local mental health board where I was a lead coordinator. Some of my work has even been used on a federal level for data collected through the CDC. In 2020 I gave birth to my daughter, making me a single mother of 3 because I was also experiencing a separation which left me down in the dumps mentally and financially. In 2021 I met my now husband. Aaron Price who has everything to do with the businesses that we operate today. His faith is what got me where I am. He looked at my work history and who I was as a person and was determined to encourage me to start my own business. In 2023 we opened up Lilly‘s pad childcare center here in Stark County. Within a year and a half we were identified as a gold center for meeting SUTQ. We work not only with our kiddos but we support our families. Our childcare center does not stop with simply childcare. We try to connect our mother‘s father‘s guardians foster parents to all the services that they need as well. We offer prayer, and resources. God was able to take my 17 years of working with families and make it my own, and I am forever grateful.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
We completely stepped out on Faith financially. I opened up a business that I knew nothing about. Little did I know my education and work history would give me the experience that I needed to meet families where they are. Although some of our state funding has changed, God has been able to move us in a direction where we have been able to shift and change like chameleons. We continue to serve and we continue to meet the needs of our community no matter what budget cuts come. It all seems to work out for us.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Lilly‘s pad childcare center is a childcare center in the southern part of Canton, Ohio. We work with children age of 6wks – 5 years of age, and we are willing to work with some of our most challenging kiddos. We are set apart as we ensure that all of our children are connected to the proper services as well as connecting their families to the resources they need.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
Opening this child care center was a huge . After leaving my past relationship the only stability my children knew was that mom was going to work. She always has a good job. When I quit my job and stepped out on faith to open this center my oldest son said, “mom are you sure?” I told him I’m doing something I’ve never done. I’m taking a risk and trusting God that it will work. Here we are 3 years later and we’re doing great!

If you want something it’s going to take risk! It’s going to take you stepping out of everything that makes you comfortable. Don’t let fear keep you from your dreams.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://LillysPadChildCareCenter.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/14XvgQW43kw/