DOYLESTOWN, PA – Doylestown Health celebrated a milestone in the construction of its new Children’s Village on Monday, November 14th, when it raised the commemorative steel beam of the new early childhood education center.
Donors, local officials, stakeholders, children, families, and staff of Children’s Village gathered near the construction site Monday morning to mark the special occasion. The presentation included comments from Jim Brexler, President and Chief Executive Officer of Doylestown Health, Marianne Chabot, Chair of the Boards of Doylestown Hospital and Doylestown Health Foundation, Barbara Hebel, Vice President of Human Resources of Doylestown Health, and Jeanne Hubbard, lead benefactor of the project along with her husband, John Hubbard.
To honor the construction of the new building and to serve as a symbolic example of something wonderful created out of disaster, Helen Hammes, President of the Village Improvement Association presented a wooden bowl carved by local artisan Lloyd Moyer, of Moyer Turnings, from a cherry tree that was felled by the same tornado that swept through the Doylestown Health campus in August of 2020. Also present were Kyle Melander, District Director representing Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, and Jack O’Brien, Doylestown Borough Council President.
Prior to the “topping off” ceremony, hundreds of individuals throughout the Doylestown Health community, including students, families, and teachers of Children’s Village, took the opportunity to sign the steel beam and leave their mark on history. At the program’s finale, students helped perform a countdown and cheered “Raise that beam!” as the steelworkers hoisted the 35ft structure up into the air and onto the foundation.
“As you can imagine, a project of this magnitude is a significant undertaking. It literally ‘takes a Village to raise a Village.’ We are so grateful for the support of our Boards and the investment of our donors to help build a new facility that will match our standards for excellence and reputation as a nationally accredited early childhood education center,” remarked Doylestown Health President and CEO Jim Brexler.
The former Children’s Village, which operated on the hospital campus for 35 years, was destroyed by a tornado in August 2020. Thankfully, no one was seriously injured in the event, but Children’s Village was damaged beyond repair. Soon after, Doylestown Health announced that a rebuild would be a new priority of ONE VISION: The Campaign for Doylestown Health. An early commitment from One Vision campaign committee members and longstanding supporters Jeanne and John Hubbard, PhD, Chairman, Signant Health, as well as early support from the community in response to their Challenge Match will help bring Children’s Village home to its original location on the Doylestown Hospital campus. “We give so children can continue to dream big and have the best possible start in the educational process,” said Hubbard. “We hope that all of you will be inspired by our hopes, dreams, and commitment to this endeavor.” The project has received more than $5 million in philanthropic support to date, and the fundraising efforts will continue into 2023.
The new Children’s Village is being built on the same site as the old one in the northwest corner of the Doylestown Hospital campus and is slated to be complete by the fall of 2023. Design features include 16 classrooms for five age groups, from infancy through kindergarten; a library; a teaching kitchen; an art studio; a multipurpose room for gatherings, fitness, and performances; an outdoor play space; enhanced safety and security features; and an adherence to environmentally friendly building standards.
“Through the One Vision Campaign, gifts of all sizes continue to make a transformational difference across Doylestown Health’s comprehensive system of care,” commented Laura Wortman, Vice President and Chief Advancement Officer, “including Children’s Village.”
Support for the project is still needed to advance completion. For more information on the project, including live construction updates, renderings, and how to make a gift, visit DoylestownHealthFoundation.org/ChildrensVillage.
About Children’s Village Early Childhood Education Center
Children’s Village is a fully licensed and nationally accredited early childhood education center, offering programs for children six weeks of age, up to and including kindergarten. The carefully designed curriculum at Children’s Village employs Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), and concentrates on the behavioral, social, emotional, and intellectual well-being and growth of each individual student, establishing a strong learning foundation for each child and fostering a positive learning environment with ample opportunities for play. For more than 35 years, Children’s Village has served thousands of children from our local community.
About Doylestown Health
The Village Improvement Association of Doylestown (VIA), an all-women volunteer organization, established Doylestown Hospital in 1923 and continues to oversee Doylestown Health today. Doylestown Health is an independent, not-for-profit, clinically integrated network of care encompassing Doylestown Hospital’s expert inpatient and outpatient services, primary care physicians and specialists, home health, hospice and palliative care, retirement living, skilled nursing and personal care, urgent care, and more. Consistently recognized both regionally and nationally for high-quality care and innovation, Doylestown Hospital provides comprehensive healthcare ranging from routine outpatient services to clinically advanced treatment options. With nearly 460 board-certified physicians, 3,200 Associates, and 600 volunteers—Doylestown Health delivers patient-centered care with clinical expertise and compassion every day.
About ONE VISION: The Campaign for Doylestown Health
Doylestown Health is beginning a bold new chapter as we approach our second century of exceptional healthcare delivery. To honor our centennial, Doylestown Health launched a $100-million comprehensive campaign, ONE VISION: The Campaign for Doylestown Health, to elevate the patient experience to new heights and unlock our full potential to deliver exceptional care. Philanthropic support of the One Vision Campaign funds transformational renovation and expansion across the Doylestown Hospital and Pine Run campuses and will help chart the course for the next generation of patients, providers, and technology.
About Doylestown Health Foundation
As the philanthropic arm of Doylestown Health, Doylestown Health Foundation raises funds to support patient care excellence and improve quality of life for the patients and families we serve. Doylestown Health relies on each and every philanthropic gifts, no matter the size, to deliver the highest level of patient care with the most advanced technologies and treatment options.
