With their signature gift, Jeanne and John Hubbard have issued a challenge match, inviting community support to help rebuild the early childhood education center at Doylestown Hospital.
DOYLESTOWN, PA – On the one-year anniversary of the tornado that destroyed Children’s Village, Doylestown Health is pleased to announce plans to rebuild the early childhood education center as a new priority of ONE VISION: The Campaign for Doylestown Health. A $1.5 million commitment from Jeanne and John Hubbard, PhD, longstanding and visionary supporters of Doylestown Health, will serve as a seed gift and offer significant early momentum for the project.
“We are so honored to support Children’s Village and invest in the future of early childhood development and education in our community,” said the Hubbards. “We are thrilled to make this gift and invite the community to join us in bringing Children’s Village home.”
With the gift from the Hubbards, Doylestown Health Foundation is launching the $1.5 Million Children’s Village Challenge Match to inspire generosity in the community that will accelerate completion of the new facility.
On August 4, 2020, an EF2 tornado touched down in Doylestown and caused significant damage to the hospital campus, including Children’s Village. Working quickly and courageously, teachers and aides, alongside physicians, staff, and emergency responders, safely evacuated the building. No one was seriously injured, but the building was damaged beyond repair.
Within a week, and thanks to the overwhelming support and generosity of the community, Children’s Village resumed operations in a recently vacated building on Ferry Road. Doylestown Health plans to begin demolition of the former site in September, and begin work on the new facility occupying the same site as soon as possible.
“As always, the support of the community plays a major role in our ability to respond to events like the tornado,” says Laura Wortman, Vice President and Chief Development Officer, Doylestown Health. “Through the visionary support of the Hubbards and other generous donors, Doylestown Health is able to move forward and bring Children’s Village home to a facility commensurate with our reputation for excellence.”
Project design has been awarded to Design Resources Group, Architects, AIA, Inc. of Somerset, New Jersey, and will focus on the latest energy efficiency and environmental design standards, incorporating best practices in child safety and early childhood learning. Project highlights include:
- Sixteen classrooms, including a tech-equipped “smart” room for kindergarten
- A dedicated integrative learning space for children with special needs
- A multipurpose area for gatherings, assemblies, and fitness
- New amenities like a library, an art room, and a teaching kitchen
- Enhanced safety and security
“While our insurance covers a portion of the costs to rebuild, we are using this as an opportunity to set our sights even higher,” says Jim Brexler, President and CEO, Doylestown Health. “We are planning a larger footprint with more amenities and an innovative design that anticipates the needs of early childhood care today and in the future, while adhering to the high standards that Children’s Village established more than 35 years ago.”
“Children’s Village has served thousands of children in the community since it first opened in 1985,” continued Brexler. “Many of our former students are now parents sending their own children here.”
A fully licensed and nationally accredited early childhood education center, Children’s Village offers infant, toddler, preschool, and kindergarten programs. The curriculum employs Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), and concentrates around the behavioral, social, emotional, and intellectual well-being and growth of each student. Carefully designed curriculum—honed by decades of experience—establishes a strong learning foundation for each child and fosters a positive learning environment with a heavy emphasis on play.
Those interested in joining the Children’s Village Challenge Match in support of Children’s Village are invited to make a gift through at DoylestownHealthFoundation.org/ChildrensChallenge or visit DoylestownHealthFoundation.org/ChildrensVillage for more information about the new project.
About ONE VISION: The Campaign for Doylestown Health
Doylestown Health is beginning a bold new chapter as we approach our second century of 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. For more information, visit the Doylestown Health Foundation website or call 215-345-2009.
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 gift, no matter the size, to deliver the highest level of patient care with the most advanced technologies and treatment options.
Gifts benefit ONE VISION: The Campaign for Doylestown Health, yielding advances in medicine and refined delivery of care for the benefit of our patients and families. We are grateful for the generous support we receive from our donors through annual and leadership gifts, planned giving and corporate partnerships. Your investment in Doylestown Health will help us realize our ambitious vision for the future: to remain a place where science and technology meet grace and humanity, and to improve the quality of life for all members of the community.
