History
The Eleanor Whitmore Early Childhood Center (EWECC) began as Head Start at Boys & Girls Harbor in 1969. In 1976, we separated from Head Start and became East Hampton Daycare. Years later under the leadership of Eleanor Whitmore, the facility and mission evolved to become an early learning and childcare center. Today, EWECC welcomes more than 100 children under the age of five of year-round working families Monday through Friday, 7:30 am to 5:30 pm.
Because of the Center, parents go to work each day with peace-of-mind knowing that their little ones are in a safe, enriching, high-quality learning environment. We have nurtured more than 5,000 children ages 18 months to 5 years over more than 50 years, instilling a love of learning and a curiosity for the world around them.
Eleanor Whitmore, Founder, Friend, Beneficiary
Eleanor joined the Board of Directors of the Day Care Center in 1985. Her dedication and vision set the Center on the path to becoming a nationally recognized center of excellence in early childhood education. Eleanor was a tireless champion of working families in our community. Honor her memory in supporting them through affordable childcare and high-quality early education.
timeline
The Center is Established
The Center is established as a Head Start Program of the East Hampton Organization for Community Action through a group of local concerned citizens. It opened in a building made available by Boys Harbor in Northwest Woods to provide child care services for working families in our community.
New Location
The Center moves to its Cedar Street location and becomes a licensed daycare facility.
New Name
Our name changes to East Hampton Daycare Center when all Head Start Programs east of Riverhead are officially closed.
Eleanor Whitmore
Eleanor Whitmore joins the board of directors.
New Home
A residence donated by the Marden family to become The Center’s new home at 2 Gingerbread Lane Extension in the Village of East Hampton, our present address.
Dr. Willet F. Whitmore donates $500,000 to The Center in memory of Betsy Cromartie Whitmore. The donation kicked off a capital campaign to construct the present building. Jane Rivkin spearheads the drive to raise the rest of the money to complete the construction.
NYS License
The Center receives a New York State license to provide services to 120 children.
1st Graduating Class
The first Pre-Kindergarten class graduates. Maureen Wikane becomes the Executive Director of The Center.
Generous Gift
Alec Baldwin donates $250,000 Hollywood Squares winnings to The Center.
National Recognition
First Lady Hillary Clinton visits The Center and reads to the children. The Center receives the National Achievement Award and becomes the first in Suffolk County to provide full day Pre-K
The Center is Renamed
The Center is renamed the Eleanor Whitmore Early Childhood Center in honor of founding member and steadfast supporter Eleanor Whitmore.
More Generous Gifts
George Balasses bequests $500,000 to The Center in recognition of the importance of early childhood education for all children.
Partnership with Yale
The Center partners with Yale on the research-based curriculum and innovative parenting program providing insights and strategies on managing challenging behaviors and optimizing healthy lifestyle choices.
20th Graduating Class
The Center celebrates the 20th Anniversary of its successful Pre-K program.
EWECC Remains Open
EWECC remains open during the pandemic to provide free childcare for Essential Workers and opens a Pop-Up Food Pantry serving 50 families weekly.
alumni stories
Kathryn Menu
alumna and parent of alumni
“Without The Center, my parents would have never been able to have the successful working lives they had. They knew I wasn’t just sitting around. I was engaged in play, learning, and developing a sense of curiosity, which builds intelligence. I was prepared by that great foundation to hit the ground running.”
Kathryn Menu is Editor and Co-publisher, Sag Harbor Express and the Press news Group with a BA in English Literature from Southampton College.
J. Sebastian Pineda, Ph.D
alumnus
“I moved to East Hampton with my mom when I was 4 years old. I didn’t speak any English when I arrived. My time at The Center is where I learned to speak English and that helped me to get a great start in school.”
Dr. Pineda attended MIT with a double major in mathematics and physics and a minor in astronomy. He then attended the California Institute of Technology where he received both a master’s and a Ph.D. in astrophysics. Today Dr. Pineda is a postdoctoral scholar in astronomy at the University of Colorado Boulder’s Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics.
David Lys
alumnus and parent of alumni
“You have to be able to trust your educators and I fully trust the educators at The Center. The Center laid the foundation for me and for my children's lives. All my dad, who emigrated here from Indonesia, wanted was to lead a good life and for his children to do better. Well, dad, all I want is for my children to do better than me too.”
David is one of the elected town councilmen for the Town of East Hampton.
