Employees and Their Children Celebrate Kid-Sized Groundbreaking at the Site of the New Beaufort Memorial Child Development Center
March 3, 2024
Beaufort Memorial Hospital (BMH) marked the beginning of sitework for the relocation of its employer-sponsored childcare center this week with a child-sized groundbreaking ceremony. Hospital administration celebrated the upcoming transition with the current class of 4-year-olds, their BMH-employed parents, teachers and school administrators in the area that will become the children’s playground.
“We understand how important it is for employees to know that while they are at work, their children are in a safe and secure learning environment,” said Russell Baxley, Beaufort Memorial president and CEO. “That is why we continue to pursue ways to expand the number of children who can be cared for in the program. It ultimately enables our team members to thrive both personally and professionally.”
What started as a response to COVID-driven school closures and virtual learning schedules, The Learning Center has evolved to help meet the ongoing need employees have for childcare. Beaufort Memorial partnered with Hobbit Hill Learning Center in summer 2020 to create the state-licensed center following South Carolina early learning standards. In September that same year, the center opened in an existing Celadon Square facility on Lady’s Island with plans to eventually expand in a location closer to the hospital campus.
“We are so appreciative of the Hobbit Hill team, which agreed to help us establish a program so that our staff could continue to serve the community during the pandemic,” said Baxley. “And we are excited to see the program continue to evolve and expand to meet our employees’ needs.”
“It’s a common struggle to find reliable, high-quality and affordable childcare, especially for infants,” said Center Director Tammi Wilson. “Our caring staff is happy to alleviate the stress and challenges that working parents face by offering a safe, nurturing, and convenient childcare option.”
The program is expected to move over the summer into the new Beaufort Memorial Child Development Center, at 5 Verdier Bluff, on the Beaufort hospital campus. Early childhood education and care services for children from 6 weeks to 5 years of age will operate Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. It's expected to add further programming and hours as additional staff and teachers are hired.
“To have affordable childcare here on site is really amazing," says Selena Alexander, a BMH laboratory team coordinator. "It allows me to keep coming to work and doing my job the best that I can while knowing that my kids are in safe hands.”