WESTCHESTER COMMUNITY COLLEGE CHILDREN’S CENTER CELEBRATES 25TH ANNIVERSARY  

Westchester Community College’s Virginia Marx Children’s Center is commemorating its 25th year of operation with a Saturday, April 30 celebration at 5:30 p.m. in the college’s Gateway Center. Invitees will include friends of the college, legislators, staff, faculty, and administrators along with current and former college students who got their start in the facility.
 
In 1986, the college opened its first childcare facility in a small area  originally used as a locker room. That space and subsequent spaces continued to be outgrown until the financial support of Virginia and Leonard Marx from Scarsdale resulted in the construction of the current, larger state of the art facility.
 
In 1996, their donation through the Westchester Community College Foundation resulted in the current 12,000 square-foot facility which allowed the college to expand to its current level of service. The Center now accommodates up to 96 infants, toddlers and preschoolers in a nurturing environment. Its eight bright, spacious classrooms are complemented by specially landscaped gardens and playgrounds. A nationally accredited daycare facility, care is given by experienced teachers and teacher assistants.
 
The facility was originally devoted to children of students; it now enrolls both the children of students, faculty and staff, and members of the local community. Students with children in the program may qualify for reduced rates due to financial need.
 
The April 30 event will feature keynote speaker Dr. Joseph Hankin, the president of the college, and a slide show on the Center.   
 
One of the unique aspects of the Center is the fact that it serves as a working lab for the college’s Early Childhood Department and Food Service students. Early Childhood students interact with the children at the Center while Food Service students observe and monitor the healthy eating habits of the children.
 
This resource, thanks in large part to the Marx family (both Virginia and Leonard are deceased), gives many of our students the flexibility they need to balance their childcare demands with their classes.