Evelyn
K. Scott Davis
"Evelyn
Davis was one of the first to raise her voice about the importance
of early educational opportunities for kids. Not only did she
talk, she did something about it..."
—Julie Gammack, The Des Moines Register, September
25, 1991
Evelyn
K. Scott Davis, of Des Moines, is a creator of human resource
organizations. She founded the Tiny Tot Child Care Center in
1967 and still directs the large, nonprofit center, dedicated
to providing child care to low-income families. The organization
has allowed thousands of parents who could not otherwise afford
child care to seek employment and educational opportunities.
She also initiated or helped to form the Inner Urban Health Board,
United Way Volunteer Board, Black Women's Political Caucus, and
Polk County Community Action Council. Because of her championship
of the causes of struggling families, Davis was honored with
the Des Moines Human Rights Award. Numerous state and national
organizations have also benefited from her advocacy and leadership
abilities, including Day Care and Child Development of America
and the Iowa Council for Children. Davis was born in Hiteman,
Iowa in 1921. Davis was inducted into the Iowa Women's Hall of
Fame in 1983.
UPDATE: Davis
was appointed to the Board of Friends of Iowa Public Television
in 1990. In 1992, the faculty of Grinnell College conferred upon
her the degree of Doctor of Laws. A children's park at 16 Forest
Street in Des Moines was named Evelyn K. Davis Park in August
of 1993. She died on October 27, 2001.
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