MetroWest YMCA will build a new preschool. What federal funding will help create
FRAMINGHAM — The MetroWest YMCA kicked off Marathon season on Thursday by announcing receipt of $5 million in federal funding to support construction of a new early child care facility.
Specifically, the new money will go toward construction of a regional early learning center serving Ashland, Framingham, Hopkinton, Holliston, Sherborn and other area communities. The facility will be built in Ashland.
The funding was formally announced Thursday during the YMCA's annual Marathon Community Breakfast, at the Sheraton Framingham Hotel & Conference Center. It was first announced March 8 in a press release sent by the Massachusetts congressional delegation.
The YMCA has been in possession of a 12.5-acre site on Memorial Drive in Ashland since 2018, when it was donated by Ashland resident Bob Gayner. Last year, the effort was boosted by a $2.5 million donation from Natick software company MathWorks, which was used to kickstart a capital campaign.
'Huge benefit': Ashland poised to get new YMCA after 12.5-acre land donation
State Rep. Priscila Sousa, D-Framingham, said the new funding would support the education of underserved MetroWest children. The new preschool facility will allow for children in her district to start kindergarten on the same page as other youngsters.
"My district houses hundreds of children that don't have access to early education, as opposed to other parts of town, which creates a massive inequity in education here in Framingham," said Sousa, who represents the city's south side. "This gets us closer to bridging the gap, and making sure that we don't have children that are starting their educational career behind or not in lockstep with their classmates."
State Rep. James Arena-DeRosa, D-Holliston, also spoke highly of the new funding, praising programs offered by the MetroWest YMCA.
'A full-service Y': Mathworks donates $2.5M to support construction of new YMCA
"It's really important," he said. "They also do so many other things. They do child nutrition, they do day care, they do Parkinson's treatment for elders and elder education. They really offer a sort of a full life set of services."
In a statement to the Daily News, U.S. Sen. Ed Markey said he would "continue to advocate for programs like those at the MetroWest YMCA that provide accessible, equitable opportunities for children to grow, learn, play, and find community." He thanked his fellow delegation members, adding that "the steady hand of the MetroWest YMCA" also played "a vital role in the success of this project.”
MetroWest YMCA honors Hoyt family
In addition to the new funding announcement, MetroWest YMCA officials announced that their new regional facility will be named for the late Rick and Dick Hoyt. The father-and-son duo participated in more than 1,000 races — most notably the Boston Marathon 32 times — in a lengthy career that led to the creation of Team Hoyt and its “Yes You Can” mantra.
Rick Hoyt, who died last May at age 61, was born with cerebral palsy and was quadriplegic. He first raced with his father in 1977. The pair competed in local road races, marathons, Ironman triathlons and a run across America in 1992. Dick Hoyt, Rick's father, died in 2021 at age 80.
Also honored were Kyle Brodeur and Mike DiDonato, a Team Hoyt duo, and Zdeno Chara, the legendary former Boston Bruins defenseman and team captain, with the 2024 Inspiration Award. Previous recipients include Marathon great Joan Benoit Samuelson, former Heisman Trophy winner (and Natick native) Doug Flutie and the Hoyts.
The new MetroWest YMCA funding is part of an estimated $175 million in Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) in the first of six fiscal 2024 spending bills for projects throughout the state. Funding will support 159 community projects in Massachusetts.
This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: MetroWest YMCA to build preschool aided by federal funds
