Ossining Children's Center Joyfully Fundraising For New Home

OSSINING, NY — The 120-year-old Ossining Children’s Center is about to break ground on a new childcare and education center, and the kids have literally danced for joy. A festive kick-off event was April 24, and next up is the OCC's Spring Benefit Gala May 19.

OCC unveiled plans in August for the construction of a new 27,000-square-foot building at 32 State St. that will enable it to consolidate its programs under one roof. To kick off the capital campaign, titled Our Children. Our Future. The Ossining Children’s Center Campaign, about 75 children on April 24 joined in a choreographed dance.

The OCC board seeks to raise $17.8 million for the project, and they're almost there. To date, OCC has raised $12.9 million. Groundbreaking is scheduled for later this spring.

“When I was asked to co-chair the Capital Campaign to raise funds for this new building, I said an enthusiastic ‘yes!’ " said Campaign Co-Chair Marilyn Wishnie. "The Center’s ability to meet the needs of the community has been hampered by the limitations of its current facilities. This newchild care and education center will be a game changer for the entire community.”

Construction of a new modern facility will attract more families from a wide variety of income levels, allowing children from throughout the community to grow together, and enabling OCC to serve more families in need.

“As a mother, grandmother and former teacher, I know the importance of good early childhood education and after-school enrichment," said CampaignCo-Chair Rebecca Samberg. "The Ossining Children’s Center’s programs are excellent, but the well-worn, 120-year-old buildings belie the wonderful care and education that go on inside. It is so exciting that the children and teacherswill have a facility worthy of the high-quality work of the Center."

OCC will hold its Spring Benefit Gala May 19 at Abigail Kirsch at Tappan Hill in Tarrytown. The event runs from 5:30 – 9:00 pm. Honorees are Susan Midgley Komosa (Visionary Leadership Award) and Jasmine Bar (Young Leader’s Award). Individual tickets are $250 and Patron tickets $500.

The kickoff event, which was held at OCC’s current location at 90 South Highland Avenue, was attended by local, county and state officials including Westchester County Executive George Latimer, NYS Assemblywoman Sandy Galef, Ossining Town Supervisor Dana Levenberg, Ossining Village Mayor Victoria Gearity and friends and supporters of the Ossining Children’s Center.

“The support from the community over the years for the work of the Ossining Children’s Center has always been very generous. In light of the community’s steady, ongoing support, their enthusiasm for our new building project is very gratifying. It is a privilege to work in a town that truly values children and families,” said Howard Milbert, Executive Director, Ossining Children’s Center.

The new center will replace operations currently housed at two 120-year-old buildings OCC owns on South Highland Avenue, as well as space it rents at a nearby church. OCC is selling the two properties on South Highland Avenue to help fund the project.

The new 2.5-acre site at 32 State Street was acquired for $1.8 million and donated to OCC by a long-time generous benefactor. An existing building on the site has been removed. The new building will house all of OCC’s current programs while meeting the growing need for infant, toddler, preschool and after-school care in Ossining. The projected enrollment for the new facility is 200-222 children. OCC’s current enrollment is 148.

Designed by KG&D Architects of Mount Kisco, the attractive three-story building will include nine classrooms, five toddler and infant rooms, four outdoor play areas, staff and administrative offices, a multi-purpose room, conference room and kitchen.

And this will be a relief not only to parents and staff, but to everyone driving up and down South Highland Avenue: there will be 22 on-site parking spaces for parents, staff and visitors, and additional parking will be secured at a nearby off-site location.

The new facility offers numerous benefits to the community, officials said.

It will make childcare available to all income levels helping parents to maintain steady employment. Having the facility downtown will help anchor the State Street neighborhood, bring increased economic activity and create job opportunities for local residents. Construction of a new modern facility will attract more families from a wide variety of income levels, allowing children from throughout the community to grow together, and enabling OCC to serve more families in need. Having a larger and more modern building could make the Center more financially viable, according to a five-year analysis by an independent consultant.

The story of Ossining Children’s Center began nearly 120 years ago as a response to the needs of working immigrant mothers. It is now a crucial resource for all families, providing nurturing and educational care for children 6 weeks to 12 years old.

Through the years, with events such as the the annual Dine-Around, the community has generously supported the OCC's mission to keep high quality childcare affordable for working families.

An important partner of Ossining’s public schools, OCC is one of the few childcare and education centers to receive a four-star rating from Quality Stars NY, a division of the Early Childhood Advisory Council, the official agency that sets standards and evaluates child care programs for New York State.