CANTON -- This spring, the Canton Day Care Center, in partnership with the Thompson-Weatherup Family Charitable Foundation, raised an additional $35,000 toward the center’s $450,000 expansion project.

In late 2017, the family foundation, as a component fund of the Northern New York Community Foundation, presented a challenge to Canton Day Care Center’s Board of Directors as a way to honor Esther Weatherup Thompson, who “devoted her life to her family and children,” according to an announcement from the day care center.

The challenge, which ran from February 15 to April 15, yielded just over $15,000 from individual contributions.

The Thompson-Weatherup Family Charitable Foundation pledged to match all individual contributions dollar-for-dollar up to $20,000.

“Inspired by the outpouring of individual support, the foundation decided to honor its original commitment to contribute the entire $20,000, which it believes will have a far-reaching impact on children, their families, and the community,” the announcement reads.

The funds raised are being applied toward Canton Day Care Center’s capital expansion project to build out the second floor of its facility at 205 State Street Road in Canton. The facility adjoins United Helpers Maplewood Campus, where Esther resided for six years prior to her death in 2017. Once constructed, the capacity of the center will double to accommodate 52 additional children, ranging in age from six weeks to 12 years.

“The need for high-quality, reliable child care in St. Lawrence County is especially acute in the Canton and Potsdam areas, where there is a constant influx of new faculty and staff at the four local colleges and universities,” said Canton Day Care Center fundraising chair Marie Loson said in the news release. “Our partnership with the Thompson-Weatherup Family Charitable Foundation and the Northern New York Community Foundation on this donor challenge has unlocked the generosity of the local community, and we are grateful to them, as well as all those who donated during the challenge, for giving us their vote of confidence.”

Those interested in supporting Canton Day Care Center’s capital campaign can make checks payable to Canton Day Care Center, Inc. and mail them to 205 State Street Rd, Canton, NY 13617. Please write “Capital Campaign” in the memo line of your check. Donations can also be made online at www.cantondaycarecenter.org/give. For more information about the capital expansion project, please visit www.cantondaycarecenter.org/expansion or call (315) 379-1829.