When you step inside an RCMA center, you immediately feel something special. It’s in the warm greetings, the voices echoing from classrooms, and the caring hands that guide each child’s day. That magic comes from RCMA’s dedicated staff—people like Nancy Zachary, RCMA Disability Specialist, who for 33 years has helped shape brighter futures for Florida’s most vulnerable children. Nancy isn’t just an employee; she represents the heart of RCMA. Her compassion, her commitment, and her belief in every child are what make RCMA a place where children don’t just learn—they thrive.
“When I first came to RCMA, I was still working on my associate’s degree,” Nancy shared. “My supervisors and coworkers encouraged me every step of the way.” That encouragement helped her grow all the way to earning a master’s degree in public health. And she’s watched RCMA do the same for others—support teachers earning their degrees, lift up families who need stability, and give children the safe, joyful start every child deserves.
For Nancy, the heart of RCMA has always been the children. She lights up when she talks about walking through a classroom and seeing little faces smiling, learning, playing, and—more often than not—running up to her for a hug. “They are just so full of joy,” she says. That joy is what keeps her coming back year after year.
But what truly sets RCMA apart, in her eyes, is how the organization supports children with disabilities. In many places, children with developmental delays or behavioral challenges are turned away or pushed out. At RCMA, they are welcomed.
“In fully inclusive classrooms, children with disabilities learn from their peers,” Nancy explains. “That’s the best way for them to learn.” She sees this every day. Just recently, she observed a child on the autism spectrum who looked directly at her—holding eye contact for several seconds. “That little glimmer, that breakthrough—that’s what I love most,” she says with a smile.
Nancy’s voice fills with quiet pride. “We are taking the best care of children in the state of Florida, probably in the nation… Other child care centers would not refer children to us if they did not believe that we are the best place for children.”
Local school districts agree. Many refer children to RCMA because they know that here, every child receives the support they need to learn and grow. “We’re recognized for providing some of the best care in the state,” Nancy says. “They wouldn’t send children to us if they didn’t believe that.”
But RCMA’s 60 years of impact goes far beyond the classroom. Many children come from homes without books, toys, heating or cooling, or predictable routines. RCMA provides all of this—and more. Families receive support, resources, and guidance, whether they want to learn English, go back to school, improve their credit, or simply find stability. “We don’t just look at the child,” Nancy says. “We look at the family. We look at the community.”
This holistic approach is what makes RCMA special—and it’s only possible because of people who believe in this mission.
For 33 years, Nancy has witnessed the doors RCMA opens: doors to inclusive education, to family stability, to a future filled with potential. But this vital work cannot continue without you.
Check out Nancy’s interview video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILxQEyvvNfk
You, too, can open a door.
Consider making a gift to RCMA. Your gift ensures that a child finds a joyful, welcoming classroom. It provides a specialist like Nancy the resources to create a “little glimmer” of breakthrough. It wraps a whole family in support and opens a path out of poverty.
Join Nancy in her unwavering mission. As we celebrate our 60 years of impact, help us ensure that for the next 60 years and beyond, every child who needs RCMA finds a place here—a place of learning, hope, and hug-filled welcome.
Please donate today and open a door to opportunity.
