Eleanor Whitmore Early Childhood Center

My name is Nicolas D’Attis. I am a rising junior at the American School of Milan, Italy. Spending my summers in East Hamptons, New York, has always been a privilege. To be surrounded by family and friends is something I have always treasured. Yet last year in the summer of 2023, I decided to get involved within the community of East Hamptons. I was eager to spend my summer supporting a community I have been a part of. It was this curiosity that led me to Eleanor Whitmore Early Childhood Center on Gingerbread Lane in East Hamptons.

Photos taken by John Musnicki

Founded in 1969, the Eleanor Whitmore Early Childhood Center, EWECC, is the only licensed, non-profit childcare center on the eastern end of Long Island, NY. EWECC is a childcare center that addresses the critical need for affordable childcare in a region considered a "childcare desert". It intrigued me to learn of my neighboring community which was inadequately supported, financially, even though it was nestled in a privileged neighborhood of East Hamptons. In early 2023, I decided to reach out to Mrs. Joan Overlock, Director of Development at EWECC. Mrs. Overlock was overjoyed that I had reached out independently and I quickly secured a one month summer job assisting Mrs. Overlock, in the fundraising department.

Working daily alongside Mrs. Overlock was a great opportunity. Mrs. Overlock and I began to speak daily as I sat in one corner of her little office helping her organize spreadsheets and allocate the funds EWECC received from its donors. I quickly began to realize how the center relied on the support of its donors. Working at EWECC was eye opening, at times when there was a lack of staff availability I helped in the classrooms reading to the kids or cleaning the floors. I started learning first hand how there is a crucial need for quality childcare in this area. By providing high-quality early learning programs the center's goal is committed to help children develop habits and traits that make them successful learners in the future.

Photos taken by John Musnicki

Completing my one month at EWECC in the end of July 2023 I discovered that even in a community as East Hamptons the center relied on external contributions to provide economical childcare for the community members. To continue my support for EWECC and once Mrs. Overlock saw my dedication to help, Mrs Overlock hired me for the month of July 2024. I look forward to working with EWECC, again in the summer of 2024 in the hopes to extend my hand to help a community I am a part of every summer.

Thanking you in advance for your time and for supporting the community.

Nicolas D’Attis