Danielle Duhart is a dedicated mother of five, a disabled veteran who served as an Army Medic, and the proud owner of Kiddie Corner Learning Center in San Antonio, Texas.
She built her business from the ground up, drawing inspiration from her parents and grandparents who ran in-home childcare centers.
What started as a dream has grown into three locations, providing safe, loving care to countless families in the community.
Danielle has created a warm, caring place where children can learn and grow.
Her centers hold strong ratings, 4 out of 4 stars with Texas Rising Star, and she accepts children on state assistance, making quality care accessible to more families.
But now, this hardworking small business owner faces a tough battle. Lawyers from Kiddie Academy, a large, billion-dollar daycare franchise, have demanded that she change her business name.
They claim her use of the word “Kiddie” in “Kiddie Corner Learning Center” takes away from their brand.
Danielle has already tried to compromise by dropping “Academy” from her name and switching to “Learning Center,” but the company refuses to back down.
@tatsndiamonds A billion-dollar daycare franchise is trying to shut down my small business… #childcare #sanantonio #daycare #veterans ♬ original sound – Danielle 💎
In a heartfelt TikTok video, Danielle shared her story with tears in her eyes. She explained that a full rebrand would mean more than just a new name.
It would require changing signage, updating licenses, and going through the entire Texas licensing process again.
Losing her current accreditation could take a full year to regain, and without it, she might no longer accept state-assisted children.
This could lead to losing students, forcing her to close, laying off her staff, and leaving families scrambling for new childcare options.
Danielle said in the video:
“A billion-dollar company is purposely targeting small daycare owners, They know a rebrand will completely destroy our business.”
Via Tiktok
She pointed out that “Kiddie” is a very common word in the childcare industry.
There are at least nine other daycares near her that use “Kiddie” in their names, yet no one else has been targeted.
Her logos and overall branding look drastically different from Kiddie Academy’s, so there’s little chance of confusion.
Here are some photos from Kiddie Corner Learning Center, showing the happy, loving environment Danielle has created for the children:
For comparison, here’s what the Kiddie Academy branding looks like:
Danielle feels the lawyers show no remorse, knowing small businesses like hers can’t afford a long legal fight against a giant corporation.
She questions how it’s fair for such a powerful company to go after the word “Kiddie” when it’s used widely in childcare.
People who know her are strongly supporting her
One parent, Criselda Montes, shared the story, writing:
“My baby girl’s daycare owner owns 3 location daycares. A billion-dollar daycare franchise is trying to shut her daycare business down after all the hard work she put in. I love the daycare & also my baby girl, the staff is so nice & very communicative. I pray to God that they don’t shut down the daycare. Here to support, please share.”
Via Facebook
Another supporter, Elisa White, posted an encouraging message:
“Big corporations often believe their financial stability and legal power give them the right to pressure small businesses into fear… Do not let that intimidation shake you. You built this business on heart, truth, and love… Stand strong and fight the battle wisely.”
Via Facebook
Danielle hopes her video reaches other small daycare owners facing similar issues, so they can stand together. She stresses that “Kiddie” should not belong to just one business.
As a retired veteran and football mom who has given so much to her country and community, Danielle is now asking for ideas and support.
She doesn’t know what to do next. The thought of losing her daycares, her staff losing jobs, and families losing trusted care breaks her heart.
She can’t afford a full rebrand, and it’s not as simple as just changing a name.
This shows the real challenges small business owners face when big companies flex their power.
Danielle’s fight is about more than a name, it’s about protecting the dream she built with love and service.
People in San Antonio and beyond are standing with this determined mom. If her story speaks to you, please share it and join us in hoping for a fair outcome.
