Doylestown Health breaks ground for new Children’s Village

Doylestown Health held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new Children’s Village Saturday, Dec. 4.
A day care facility located on the Doylestown Hospital campus, Children’s Village was damaged beyond repair on Aug. 4, 2020, when an EF2 tornado touched down in Doylestown.
The project will construct a new multiuse facility for the Children’s Village Child Care Center at the site of the old center. At approximately 42,000 square feet, there will be rooms for infants through kindergartners, a multipurpose area, library, playground and outdoors learning space, and a secure entrance to the center. The new facility is scheduled for a 2023 opening.
Donors, local officials, legislators, and families and staff of Children’s Village gathered for the groundbreaking.
State Sen. Steve Santarsiero said Dec. 3, that he has secured $2 million in state grant funds from the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) to help rebuild Children’s Village.
“I want to thank Governor Wolf for agreeing to my request to dedicate RACP funds to rebuild an important part of the Doylestown Hospital campus that was devastated when a violent tornado struck in the middle of the day with the center full of children and staff,” said Santarsiero.

“We were so fortunate there were no serious injuries to the children or staff of the center thanks to the heroism of everyone who helped evacuate the building,” he added.
“Doylestown Health is honored to be awarded $2 million from the Pennsylvania Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program,” said Jim Brexler, president and chief executive officer of Doylestown Health.
“This significant funding will allow us to rebuild Children’s Village and renew our commitment to serving the families of our community, as we have since our founding by the Village Improvement Association of Doylestown. We would like to thank Sen. Santarsiero and the governor’s office for their support of this important capital initiative, and for empowering Doylestown Health to rebuild our early childhood education center to serve the children of this community.”
The project also has received the early support of Jeanne and John Hubbard, PhD, who are matching up to $1.5 million in gifts. On Saturday, Barbara Ann Price announced a $10,000 gift from the VIA to the rebuild project.
Support for the project is still needed, as insurance only covers a portion of the total cost. To date, nearly $500,000 has been contributed to the $1.5 Million Children’s Village Challenge Match. For information, and to lend support, visit DoylestownHealthFoundation.org/ChildrensVillage.

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