YMCA Early Learning Center Celebrates One Year at SUNY JCC Cattaraugus County Campus 

A family gathers around a table covered with a floral tablecloth at an outdoor event. A woman and a young child pick up smooth stones from the table, while a man wearing a black hat and light blue "Top Air" shirt holds a baby. In the background, there is a colorful inflatable play structure and a grassy area with trees and buildings.
YMCA Early Learning Center Celebrates One Year at SUNY JCC Cattaraugus County Campus 
Wednesday, August 27, 2025
Cattaraugus County Campus
By Vinny Pezzimenti

OLEAN, N.Y. — The JCC YMCA Early Learning Center celebrated one year of serving children and families at SUNY Jamestown Cattaraugus County Campus during an event on Tuesday night. 

Families of children who attend the daycare center participated in activities on the downtown Olean campus lawn ranging from a bouncy obstacle course, face painting, a petting zoo, arts and crafts, and more. Snacks were provided by the YMCA of the Twin Tiers and cookie treats by the Hatch Cafe that operates on campus. 

A group of eight adults stand smiling in front of a large inflatable obstacle course at an outdoor event. The group consists of men and women dressed in business casual attire, with trees and a grassy area visible in the background.
Representatives from JCC and the YMCA of the Twin Tiers gathered at the first year
celebration of the Early Learning Center. From left, are: Samantha Coulter,
YMCA director of the Early Learning Center; Brianna Simms, YMCA executive
director of NYS Childcare; Jeff Townsend, CEO of the YMCA of the Twin Tiers;
Wende Lescynski, JCC program manager for College Planning and Improvement;
Paula Snyder, executive director of the JCC Cattaraugus County Campus; Jessica
Kubiak, JCC Academic Affairs vice president; Daniel DeMarte, JCC president; and
Holger Ekanger, JCC Workforce Development vice president.

The event was sponsored by SUNY JCC and Cornell Capital Holdings. 

The Early Learning Center, located on the first floor of the Technology Center, is operated by the YMCA of the Twin Tiers and offers weekday care for up to 50 children. Over the past year, the rooms at the Early Learning Center have been filled with young children ranging from babies as young as six weeks to preschoolers getting ready to start their journey through school. 

This ongoing partnership is part of the YMCA of the Twin Tiers and Jamestown Community College’s dedication to serving this community and providing affordable, dependable, and high-quality solutions to those needing trusted childcare for their families. JCC students, employees, and community members have taken advantage of the new daycare option. 

The Early Learning Center is one of 47 daycare centers that operate on State University of New York campuses.  

During a visit to JCC’s Jamestown Campus on Aug. 14, SUNY Chancellor John B. King praised the college for offering childcare to older students. 

"Thanks to wise investments by Governor Hochul and state leaders, Jamestown Community College is not only able to meet the educational needs of area residents, but is also able to provide high-quality childcare so that adult learners can pursue their aspirations,” King said. “I applaud Jamestown Community College for stepping up and serving as an educational and economic driver for this region and beyond." 

Visit TwinTiersYMCA.org for more information about the JCC YMCA Early Learning Center.