Silver Bay YMCA is thrilled to announce that its childcare center, the Ticonderoga Community Early Learning Center (TCELC), has been awarded a $25,000 grant from the Cloudsplitter Foundation.
“We are thrilled to receive support from Cloudsplitter Foundation. Their commitment to quality childcare and early learning in the North Country is clear and resolute. They make a great community partner. With their support and strong community investment we will see this program thrive,” Silver Bay YMCA VP of Development and Government Relations Walt Lender stated.
The Cloudsplitter Foundation, originally established as the Keet Family Foundation in 1986, has been serving the Adirondack Region for almost 40 years. The Cloudsplitter Foundation is dedicated to improving the environment, economics, and lives of the people of the Adirondacks through innovative and leveraged philanthropic programs.
“We are deeply grateful to the Cloudsplitter Foundation for their generous $25,000 grant in support of our childcare center,” said Lucas Callahan, Interim CEO of Silver Bay YMCA. “This funding will help us continue providing high-quality, nurturing, and accessible childcare for families in our community. Investments like this strengthen not only our programs but the future of the Adirondack region as a whole.”
The TCELC was opened in September of 2024 to help alleviate some of the challenges the local community was facing due to lack of childcare providers.
According to the Child Care Coordinating Council of the North Country, Essex County and Ticonderoga have steadily lost childcare slots year after year. Childcare providers are exiting the field faster than new providers are being licensed. Ticonderoga currently has fewer than 25 total licensed childcare slots.
According to population and labor force data and statistics, there are approximately 8,250 residents in Ticonderoga and the immediate surrounding towns with more than 600 children under the age of 6.
“This grant from the Cloudsplitter Foundation will make a tremendous difference in sustaining and strengthening our childcare programs,” said Jackie Palandrani, Education Director at the Ticonderoga Community Early Learning Center. “These funds will help offset operational costs, support our dedicated staff, and ensure we can continue providing a safe, enriching environment where every child can learn, grow, and thrive.
“Right now, our region is facing a critical shortage of high-quality early-education and childcare opportunities. According to a report by Jeanna Capito and Simon Workman for the Adirondack Foundation, across the Adirondack area there are between 5 and 14 young children for every available childcare slot, indicating what experts call a ‘child-care desert’.
“Investments like this don’t just help families—they strengthen our workforce and community. With many parents unable to work full-time because of lack of care, this grant helps fill a vital gap and lays a foundation for both children’s future success and the region’s economic health,” concluded Palandrani.
To learn more about the Ticonderoga Community Early Learning Center visit https://silverbay.org/early-learning-center/ or call 518.585.7433.