Just days before Christmas, workers began demolition on the Laughlin Children’s Center Carriage House, as part of the first phase of a major renovation to the three-building campus and grounds. Excited but exhausted employees packed up decades of books, supplies, and other flotsam and jetsam before the holiday break, so that workers could remove interior walls and prepare the 1880’s structure for a total face lift, including a new roof, new HVAC, and a stripped-to-bare-wood exterior paint job.

 

“It’s really happening,” LCC’s director of academics, Karen Borland, shared, as she sorted through academic materials. “All of the planning, the fund-raising, the meetings--they’ve all come down to this, a new beginning!” Borland has twice as many reasons to celebrate, given that she oversees both the school-aged academic programs as well as Laughlin’s nationally-accredited The Village Preschool; the preschool will relocate to the Carriage House, and enjoy easy access to the new playground, designed by Sandra Bolain of 13 Grounds Design, while the

academic staff will move into newly-redesigned offices in the Main Building.

 

While construction began in late 2010, final work isn’t slated to wrap up until late 2011. “We have a move-in date of August 8th for the Carriage House, so that we can start the preschool year in the new location. Once major work is wrapped up on that part of the reno, the contractor and architect will turn their attention to the Main Building and Cottage. I’m hopeful we can celebrate the kick-off to Yuletide in the Village with some sort of Open House,” Douglas Florey, Laughlin’s Executive Director, told the staff at their annual staff retreat recently.

 

In addition to new spaces and renovated offices for the preschool and academic staff, the renovation will also address the need for updated therapy spaces for the Speech and Psychology departments, as well as administrative staff. Storage, group meeting spaces, and a dedicated Waiting Room will also become reality in the coming months.

 

“None of this would be possible without the generous support of the governing boards,” Florey continued. The Board of Trustees started the fund-raising ball rolling last summer with a $100,000 gift, and an additional $50,000 challenge grant, which the governing boards met and exceeded. With these cornerstone gifts in place, grant-writing began in earnest in the fall, meeting with success from long-time Laughlin supporters, the Paul O’Neill family, including former Board president Julie O’Neill Kloo.

 

Other foundations have been conducting site visits throughout the winter and spring, and the campaign is nearing the 75% mark. “I’m overwhelmed with the positive response our campaign has met with, but I also recognize that we have a way to go before we reach the finish line,” Kate Pigman reported at the April Trustees meeting. Pigman, chair of the board of trustees, went on to list the major contributors to date (see inside for the complete list and information on donating).

 

“With this impressive list of benefactors, I’m certain that the surrounding community will step up and help support Laughlin’s renovation efforts,” Pigman continued. “We have been providing meaningful support to children from throughout the area for over 50 years, and people recognize our importance to local families, as well as the need for this renovation.”

 

 “All gifts, regardless of size, are very much appreciated,” according to Florey. “We are a community resource for all families. We serve children with special needs, as well as their typically-developing peers. We work with families who become major donors, as well as with parents who participate in our financial aid program. We’re not the sort of place that’s pigeon-holed into just one kind of client, or just one sort of service, and our donations reflect that: major or modest, every one is important and appreciated.” Individuals interested in learning more about the renovation, as well as the naming opportunities connected with it, should contact the Center’s director, Douglas Florey.