YMCA Early Learning Center opens at Sentara Martha Jefferson
Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital and the Piedmont Family YMCA recently celebrated the opening of the YMCA Early Learning Center at Sentara Martha Jefferson, a new on-campus resource designed to support healthcare team members, working families, and the broader community.
Opening late January 2026, the Early Learning Center will provide quality, full-day early learning for children aged 6 weeks to 5 years. Located on the hospital’s campus, the center offers a safe, nurturing, and engaging environment while making childcare more accessible and convenient for families who work in healthcare.
“This center reflects our commitment to caring for the people who care for our community,” said Bernie Boone, president of Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital. “By supporting our team members with dependable, high-quality childcare, we are strengthening our workforce and helping families better balance the demands of work and home.”
Developed to help ease childcare challenges for hospital colleagues, the Early Learning Center offers extended hours, tuition on a sliding scale, and, thanks to the community support of the Martha Jefferson Hospital Foundation, an exclusive tuition discount for Sentara employees. These features were intentionally designed to support working parents and help reduce barriers to early childhood education.
The center is operated by the Piedmont Family YMCA, bringing its long-standing expertise in early learning and family-centered programming to the hospital campus.
“We are proud to stand alongside our partner, Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital,” said Jessica Taylor, chief executive officer of the Piedmont Family YMCA.
“Sentara’s dedication to health, wellness, and community care aligns beautifully with the YMCA’s mission to strengthen community through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. Together, we are bringing education and healthcare together in a way that truly serves families, supporting working parents, promoting healthy development, and helping children get the best possible start in life.”
The YMCA Early Learning Center represents a long-term investment in people, supporting team members today while helping children thrive for years to come. The center stands as a reflection of Sentara Martha Jefferson’s commitment to strengthening families, supporting working parents, and improving health every day, beginning with its own team members and their families.