New Samaritan Early Learning Center opens

The weather proved to be gorgeous for the opening of the new home for the Samaritan Early Learning Center on Aug. 26, 2011. About 125 guests enjoyed the sunshine and applauded as the Lincoln City Chamber of Commerce cut the ribbon for what remains the only subsidized child care facility in north Lincoln County.

"This was a very special day for everyone involved with this project," said Marty Cahill, CEO of Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital. "We’re excited about what this new facility will offer for the youngest members of our community. It’s going to give them the opportunity to begin a very productive journey in their education."

The new location will also allow the center to meet Early Head Start program requirements. By designing the new building according to Early Head Start specifications, the center will qualify for future Early Head Start funding, allowing it to expand onsite and outreach services for young children and families, in addition to increasing the number of children who can attend the center to 93.

The completion of the project means that children and families of the Lincoln City area will have access to an affordable, extended-hour, high-quality environment ideally suited for early childhood education and development. Working closely with parents, the center will help to secure the health, safety and development of young children by fostering positive parenting skills among area families, facilitating the utilization of appropriate social services and acting as a model of effective care.

The foundation raised a total of $546,000 toward the $1,300,000 construction cost of the center.

"A weekend for the children" raises more than $70,000  

The foundation hosted a weekend-long party that raised almost $71,000 to benefit local children through new hospital equipment and the Samaritan Early Learning Center. The weekend began on Aug. 26, 2011 with the Samaritan Early Learning Center opening already mentioned and continued on Saturday evening with the eighth annual Wine and Gourmet Gala, an elegant five-course dinner highlighting the wines and cuisines of the Pacific Northwest, held at Salishan Spa & Golf Resort.

Proceeds from the Gala and live and silent auctions, including the legendary dessert frenzy, came to $38,900 and funded the purchase of two birthing beds for the Family Birthing Center at Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital. The beds are tailor-made both for moms-to-be and for labor and delivery nurses and are designed to ensure that moms have the best possible birthing experiences based on flexible support features, simple operation and improved mobility.
 
Sunday dawned sunny and warm, perfect for the 16th annual Charity Golf Scramble, also at Salishan. All proceeds from the scramble and its benefit raffle will go to the Samaritan Early Learning Center. Teams of four competed to win beautiful glass trophies created by the artists of Jennifer L. Sears Glass Art Studio. The $32,200 in net proceeds from the tournament went toward the construction of Samaritan Early Learning Center.