Niagara Falls Boys & Girls Club celebrates expansion

Article and photos by Madeline Dorobiala

The Niagara Falls Boys & Girls Club celebrated its expansion, the Cub Club Early Learning Center, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept. 24.

The Boys & Girls Club has been involved with Niagara Falls for 90 years. This new location on Military Road is pivotal, it noted, because all ages can receive reliable childcare for their development while parents and caretakers work.

The staff-to-child ratio for infants is 4-to-1. For toddlers, it is 6-to-1. Three-year-old preschool is 7-to-1. Then, 3-year-old preschool is 8-to-1.

Attendees gathered in the lobby and were greeted by staff as they walked in. Once guests signed in to the building, Senior Director of Cub Club Yulanda McVay and other staff gave tours.

“We will give tours and everything to parents,” Niagara Falls Boys & Girls Club CEO Rebecca Vincheski said. “The only way to really assure parents – and it was the only way when my son was younger ... I could talk to people on the phone, I could do all the research – but it wasn't until I stepped into the doors of the daycare I finally chose, because I got to meet the staff.”

Vincheski said she was thinking of the idea three years ago because she noticed the need for another location.

“It became serious last year. It’s when we started to put numbers on paper and take a look at different buildings,” she said. “It was a span of a year of board meetings with special committees and discussions to be able to say, ‘Is this within our mission?’ ”

Niagara Falls Boys & Girls Club CEO Rebecca Vincheski speaks to attendees about the opening of Cub Club.

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Last December, Vincheski and her team followed through with next steps for their building. She thanked the board for its commitment and dedication to making the new location possible, as well as M&T Bank for its support.

Board Chair Joseph Ieraci took a moment to congratulate Vincheski and the opportunity she created for the community. Ieraci also recognized how this new location created an impact on the nonprofit.

“We continue to push this organization forward to see opportunities that others may not see, and ask what more we can do for the young people, families of Niagara Falls,” he said. “So, Cub Club is another example of that leadership.”

Local state and elected officials attended the event. City of Niagara Falls Mayor Robert Restaino congratulated Vincheski and the board on their new building.

“I had the chance to tour the facility. We had children, babies in arms, all the way up through the learning process,” Restaino said. “You know, we believe, in the City of Niagara Falls, that the more we can do to provide programming for young people, the greater our city can become.”

He emphasized word should be spread about the Niagara Falls Boys & Girls Club’s accomplishment.

Cub Club Early Learning Center is located at 4520 Military Road.