The Child Development Center is Growing—Help Us Grow With It!
For the first time in its 50-year history, Western’s Child Development Center (CDC) is expanding—and we need your help to make it everything our campus families deserve.
A new modular building is being installed at the south end of campus, near the existing facility in the Fairhaven area. This expansion will add two new classrooms, allowing us to serve more student families, faculty, and staff than ever before, including toddlers as young as 12 months, an age group with the highest unmet childcare need in Whatcom County.
With this growth, the CDC will increase its capacity by nearly 50%, providing care for up to 100 children. That means shorter waitlists, more accessible options for families balancing school and work, and increased opportunities for Western students interested in early childhood education.
But this kind of impact doesn’t come easy—or inexpensively.
We’ve secured $800,000 in public grant funding from local, state, and federal sources, including:
- $529,800 in Federal ARPA funding through Whatcom County
- $250,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending supported by Senator Patty Murray
- $20,000 from the Opportunity Council for toddler-friendly and accessible playground updates
Now, we’re turning to our Western community to help us go even further.
Your Give Day gift helps us:
- Finish the final stages of construction
- Support our sliding-scale tuition for student families (subsidized in part by the Associated Students)
- Maintain high-quality care through the Early Achievers program
- Create more student employment and practicum opportunities
- Uphold our commitment to equity by ensuring at least 25% of enrolled families meet low income eligibility thresholds
Take a peek at what’s possible! These mockups show our vision for the new modular building, with your support bringing it to life:
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B:
Here’s a sample of the furniture we hope to bring into the new modular space to create a welcoming and functional environment: 
This expansion isn’t just about square footage. It’s about equity, access, and making space for families who have historically been left on waitlists. It’s about investing in the next generation of children, of students, of educators.
The new classrooms are set to open this fall. With your help, they’ll open fully equipped, fully supported, and full of possibility.
Donate today and help us build the future of childcare at Western.
Thank you so much for supporting Western’s early learners!
"I believe there is a subtle magnetism in Nature, which, if we unconsciously yield to it, will direct us aright."
- Henry David Thoreau
I’m so thankful for the many ways the CDC helped my son AJ and daughter Marina grow into the beautiful people they are today. I remember fondly dumping shoes full of sand out each night before we entered the house as AJ chattered excitedly about the trucks in the play area and his CDC friends. The mess caused by all that sand was worth it! He learned to collaborate, and his imagination was ignited through all that outdoor play. He received a kindness award when attending Happy Valley Elementary, and I credit the CDC for the strong foundation that is helping him flourish in elementary school now.
- Angie Vandenhaak, mother of CDC alumni AJ (11) and Marina (14)
