HGSE Faculty and Staff Donate More than $2,000 to Local Day Care

On Wednesday, December 21, HGSE Dean of Administration Bob Fogel and Senior Finance Officer Juan Carlos Hincapie delivered a check worth $2,306 and 50 children's books to Our Place Day Care Center in Cambridge. HGSE faculty and staff raised the money--which more than doubled last year's contribution--through donations at their annual holiday party. In total, the Ed School has raised nearly $30,000 for Our Place over the past decade.

"We wouldn't be able to operate the program without the support like this from the GSE," said Darlene Kopesky, director of programs at Our Place. "It has been helpful every year."

Our Place, a Salvation Army facility, focuses specifically on helping families break the pattern of homelessness by providing day care, educational services, and emotional support. The nationally-accredited day care center serves 38 children every day.

During the visit, Fogel and Hincapie toured the Central Square facility and met with children at the center.

"It's critical that the children of these families be given a fair head start," Fogel said, noting that, from the HGSE perspective, it's important to reach out to children before they enter school and start education young.

Kopesky said she hopes to spend the money for items on the center's wish list, especially material for the research center. She also responded enthusiastically to Fogel's invitation for Our Place staff to visit HGSE and sit in on programs and classes.

"It's really nice and generous," she said.