Transaction expands Small Miracles’ footprint into the Tampa–St. Petersburg market while supporting Gingerbread Schools’ next phase of growth
St. Petersburg, Florida – January 28, 2026 – Vision Point Capital (“VPC”), a leading M&A and ESOP advisory firm, announced that it served as the sell-side advisor to Gingerbread Schools, Inc. (“Gingerbread”) in its sale to Small Miracles, a portfolio company of Chicago-based private equity firm Traverse Pointe Partners. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Gingerbread is a long-established childcare and early education provider with three locations serving families across the Tampa–St. Petersburg, Florida market. The schools offer programs for young children in a nurturing, education-focused environment and have built a strong reputation among local families over many years. Small Miracles is a leading early-learning center company that owns and operates 20 centers, including locations in Tucson and Phoenix, Arizona, as well as Tampa–St. Petersburg, Florida. The company serves children from six weeks through 14 years of age and was recently recognized as one of North America’s 50 largest for-profit childcare organizations.
“Gingerbread has built an outstanding reputation in the Tampa Bay market, and we were honored to support the ownership team in this important transition,” said Chris Gomes, Managing Director, Mergers & Acquisitions at Vision Point Capital. “This transaction is a great example of how a thoughtfully structured sale can create a strong outcome for owners, employees, and families, while helping a strategic buyer expand in a high-growth region.”
The acquisition provides Small Miracles with a strategic entry point and additional scale in Florida, complementing its existing network of centers and expanding its total enrollment capacity to more than 2,600 children across its footprint.
For Gingerbread, the partnership supports continued investments in staff, programming, and facilities, while giving the ownership group confidence that the schools’ legacy and community presence will be preserved as they transition into their next chapter.
About Gingerbread Schools
Gingerbread Schools, Inc. is a childcare and early education provider with three locations serving families across the Tampa–St. Petersburg, Florida region. Gingerbread offers programs designed to support children’s social, emotional, and academic development in a safe, nurturing environment, and has become a trusted partner to parents seeking high-quality early education options.
About Small Miracles
Small Miracles is a multi-location early-learning center company that owns and operates 20 centers in some of the fastest-growing areas of the United States, including Tucson and Phoenix, Arizona, and Tampa–St. Petersburg, Florida. Serving children from six weeks through 14 years of age, Small Miracles provides a range of educational and enrichment programs delivered by trained and experienced educators. With its most recent acquisition of Gingerbread Schools, the company’s centers have capacity for more than 2,600 children.
About Traverse Pointe Partners
Traverse Pointe Partners is a Chicago-based private equity firm focused on control investments in lower middle market companies. Traverse partners with strong management teams, providing capital as well as operational, financial, and strategic support to help its portfolio companies grow and maximize their potential. To date, Traverse has completed multiple platform investments and add-on acquisitions across a range of industries.
About Vision Point Capital
Vision Point Capital is a premier financial advisory firm dedicated to putting business owners in control of their future. For more than two decades, VPC professionals have supported clients nationwide with complex business valuations, ESOP advisory, and sell-side/buy-side M&A transactions. The firm combines institutional-level expertise with boutique service, helping owners align their personal and financial objectives, maximize liquidity, and execute successful transition strategies.
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