The Alburgh Family Clubhouse faces final funding hurdle to provide affordable child care to over 60 children 

September 16 Press Release from Alburgh Family Clubhouse Board of Directors:

Alburgh, VT – After six years of planning, design, and fundraising, the Alburgh Family Clubhouse (AFC) has six weeks to close its final funding gap to break ground before the end of 2024. When completed in 2025, the Clubhouse will provide affordable, community-based child care for over 60 children in an area that currently lacks any significant child care facilities. The current landscape of child care in Vermont presents many challenges for young families, especially in a small, rural community like Alburgh. As an organization, it is AFC’s mission to expand educational access and opportunities, especially for children at risk of poor developmental and learning outcomes, by promoting and providing affordable, high-quality Early Care and Education for young children and their families in Alburgh and surrounding communities. The Clubhouse will also be a major driver for growth, creating additional jobs and enabling more parents with young children to participate more fully in the local economy. 

Since the Clubhouse project began in 2018, we have raised over $2.77 million in federal funding, state grants, and private donations. This has been a tremendous effort from our community members and partners, ranging in scope from applying for major federal grants to redeeming bottles from our local transfer station. We are so grateful to everyone who has helped bring us to this point, and we are actively seeking additional support to finally break ground this fall. 

Due to increased construction costs since the beginning of the process, the Clubhouse found itself needing to raise an additional $500,000 to break ground this year. Through generous support from our partners and neighbors, we have managed to raise an additional $130,000 in the last month alone. Our current funding need is $370,000 in order to bring this project across the finish line, and fill the urgent child care gap for Northern Grand Isle and Franklin Counties. We are actively seeking any community members, organizations, or corporate partners who want to help us create a lasting and meaningful impact on our corner of Vermont.

Here are just some of the commitments and grassroots fundraising efforts the Alburgh Family Clubhouse has received so far:

• $2.2 million in combined State and Federal Grant Funding
• $200,000 through Let’s Grow Kids and First Children’s Finance
• $130,000 from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds designated to the town of Alburgh
• $90,000 from donations of stock holdings
• over $100,000 from private donations, fundraisers, and can/bottle returns.

With site secured, plans finalized, and permits approved, the Alburgh Family Clubhouse is just $370,000 from being able to immediately break ground. Anyone can contribute to the project via the current fundraiser: Fundraiser by Alburgh Family Clubhouse : Help Alburgh Family Clubhouse Break Ground! (gofundme.com), or by contacting us directly. 

Quoting Reeva Murphy, from Heart of a Child Early Care and Learning Consultation, who serves as Project Manager for the Clubhouse: “I think this project is extraordinary because it shows what people who care about their community can accomplish when they are motivated, persistent, courageous, and focused on positive, transformative change. This has been a long and daunting journey for the Board and its allies. I hope donors step up to this opportunity to be part of something very special to get the project over the finish line and into construction. Children and families in Alburgh need this center operational as soon as we can build it.”

Gina Lewis, AFC President, added: “Our community has worked hard for six years on bringing this idea into reality, and now it’s coming down to the next six weeks or so to close this final gap. Alburgh families need and deserve a facility that can provide childcare, early education, and after-school programming within our own community. We’ve accomplished so much, raising over $2.7 million, and now we only have this small funding gap holding us back.”

About Alburgh Family Clubhouse:

Alburgh Family Clubhouse, Inc. (AFC) is a grassroots, community-driven non-profit organization fueled by the passion and determination of dedicated volunteers. Our singular mission is to expand educational access and opportunities, especially for children at risk of poor developmental and learning outcomes, by promoting and providing affordable, high-quality Early Care and Education (ECE) for young children and their families in Alburgh and surrounding communities.

Contact:

Alex McCracken, Board of Directors

Alburgh Family Clubhouse

Alex.McCracken.Vermont@gmail.com