Ribbon Cutting Marks Completion of Project to Increase Access to Child Care

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MEDIA ADVISORY

WHAT: The Learning Lamp invites the community to an official ribbon cutting to celebrate the successful completion of its “Child Care Works for Somerset” campaign. The Campaign was launched in 2021 to renovate and expand The Learning Lamp Center for Children in Somerset. The building, a former gym, was transformed to nearly double the center’s capacity to serve children and families with high-quality, reliable child care.

WHEN: Thursday, May 16, with tours of the center beginning at 9 a.m. followed by a ribbon cutting and celebration at 10 a.m.

WHERE: The Learning Lamp Center for Children in Somerset, 451 Aberdeen Drive, Somerset, PA 15501

WHY: Child care is in crisis with ongoing shortages of staff and availability. When working parents of young children cannot access care, Pennsylvania loses approximately $6.6 billion annually—a cost shouldered by families, employers, and taxpayers at large, according to the PA Chamber of Commerce. Somerset County is no exception. PA Partnerships for Children reports that of the 2,324 children under age 5 in Somerset County whose parents require outside care, there are only enough slots for half. Through its “Child Care Works for Somerset” Campaign, The Learning Lamp doubled the number of Keystone STAR 4 classrooms and gross motor spaces for children aged 3 and 4. The center’s infant/toddler and school-aged care spaces, playgrounds, and parking lot were also improved to reflect the high caliber of care within. The project was made possible through investments of individuals, local businesses, local and regional foundations, and support from state and federal lawmakers.

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The Learning Lamp is a nonprofit organization with a mission to engage all children in the support they need to succeed. We deliver high-quality programs that are affordable and accessible to families of all income levels. In 2023, The Learning Lamp and our school-based division Ignite Education Solutions directly served 37,524 children and adults. In addition to our own program locations, we worked with 87 public and private schools in 36 Pennsylvania counties. We also supported 473 child care and community-based youth organizations with free or nearly free shared resources, positively impacting another 44,190 children statewide.

Our programs include: child care and preschool, after-school programs, tutoring, SAT prep, school staffing, alternative education programs for at-risk students, online learning, credit recovery, drug and alcohol prevention programs, and grant writing and project consulting for schools.