Grandparents are familial pillars in formative years, and while not everyone has them, having involved grandparents can still be an advantage, something Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has recognized. The tech tycoon, worth $371 billion and the world’s second-richest man today, represents this sentiment perfectly and has repeatedly described his grandparents, particularly his maternal grandfather, as formative figures in his childhood.
In a striking parallel to that childhood experience, a tuition-free Bezos Academy preschool recently opened on the campus of a Glendale senior-living center, offering Montessori-inspired early education for 3- to 5-year-olds. Having lively kids around is also beneficial for seniors who often battle loneliness, a predicament far more torturous than actual illness.
According to AZCentral, the new Bezos Academy preschool opened on September 30, 2026, on the campus of the Glencroft Center senior-living facility in Glendale. It tackles two problems at once by providing intergenerational volunteer opportunities for seniors. The 62-year-old tycoon himself spent roughly three months every year from ages four to 16 on his grandfather’s Texas ranch. The preschool provides free tuition and meals for children from families earning up to 400% of the federal poverty level (about $132,000 for a family of four) and give these kids opportunities to find role models in the company of seniors. Older residents are also getting a chance to develop relationships, becoming surrogate grandparents to the children.
Bezos Academy Glendale – Sahuaro Glenn opened its doors with four classrooms in October 2026 and will add a fifth classroom the following year. 100 students will receive their education with one teacher and one assistant for every 20 children in each classroom. The campus of the Glencroft Center for Modern Aging supports more than 900 residents with around 500 staff, creating ample opportunity to foster intergenerational bonds. Senior residents can read books to children, participate in gratifying activities like distributing lunches, work with children in the school garden, and indulge in volunteer work.
As for Bezos, he has experienced the benefits of both a life with involved grandparents and Montessori education. Bezos himself was a Montessori preschooler, starting at approximately two years old. By his own admission, he ended up being so absorbed in individual activities that teachers struggled to get him to move on to the next one. The teacher was left with little choice but to physically lift him, chair and all. The parallels with Bezos’s own childhood are striking, as the school combines the Montessori education he experienced as a toddler with daily proximity to older adults while allowing children to explore their individual interests at their own pace.
Inside Bezos Academy Glendale – Sahuaro Glenn
Occupying a converted building within the 40-acre Glencroft Center for Modern Aging retirement community, the tuition-free Bezos Academy preschool sits at 6511 West Alice Avenue and operates from Monday to Friday. Inside, there are five classrooms for 100 children, intentionally ditching the typical classroom desk layout.
Because the curriculum is child-centered, culturally responsive, and Montessori-inspired, every child is encouraged to develop at their own pace. Alongside academic learning, practical real-world activities such as setting a table, watering plants, washing, sweeping, and basic food preparation take center stage.
The conversion of the building from old to new was helmed by Seattle-based Bassetti Architects, which has worked on several other Bezos Academy projects. The building spans roughly 8,000 square feet and, in addition to the classrooms, includes administration spaces, restrooms, and a warming kitchen. Nearly 3,800 square feet of outdoor play space accompanies dedicated parking, walkways, and storage.
Note – As of this writing, according to the Forbes ranking, Jeff Bezos, has a net worth of $371 billion, and is the second-richest person on Earth.
