Boehringer Ingelheim hosts Governor Lamont press conference at our Apple Blossom learning center to support more on-site childcare options in Connecticut

On Friday, March 17, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont and his administration visited our U.S. headquarters in Ridgefield to tour our Apple Blossom Children’s Learning Center. During the visit, the governor learned about the center, expressed the need for more childcare funding and access across the state, and discussed the state’s newly established Blue-Ribbon Panel on Child Care.

As a family-owned company, we fully support Governor Lamont’s efforts and the policy he’s working to implement so that it’s easier for employers to offer on-site childcare, like what we’ve had in place for nearly two decades.

Alisha Russo, Director of Apple Blossom, gave the tour of the center to Governor Lamont, Lieutenant-Governor Susan Bysiewicz, Commissioner Beth Bye, Danbury Mayor Dean Esposito, and members of the Blue-Ribbon Panel. Russo was joined by members of our leadership, including Jamie Eden, Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Communications, who gave opening remarks at the press conference.

“I am proud of what this can mean for our future. Apple Blossom is a center that other companies can look to as an effective model for bringing childcare to the workplace, giving working parents peace of mind about their child’s care, and enhancing a child’s learning experience,” said Eden.

In addition to our company’s support for improved childcare options for local communities and businesses, Eden is serving on the Blue-Ribbon Panel on Child Care. This links to our commitment to supporting employees’ total well-being, helping them to
balance work and life.

At Apple Blossom, we provide a healthy and safe learning environment for children ages six weeks to 12 years. The center, which opened in 2006, is managed in partnership with KinderCare Learning Companies. Our employees can enroll their children in full-time, part-time, and drop-in programs as well as before- and after-school care and summer camps. We also offer additional learning enrichment, like three levels of STEM classes, cooking, and phonics.

“After receiving the suggestion from our employees, Apple Blossom enhanced the Center’s curriculum to include STEM programming. This supports curiosity and potentially may pique their interest in a STEM career in the years to come. Who knows -- we may even have a future Boehringer Ingelheim scientist among us sitting in one of the classrooms right now,” expressed Eden during the visit.

One of our employees, Melissa Giambalvo, also spoke during the visit about her experience as an Apple Blossom parent. She shared, “We are so thrilled with the care, attention and support our son receives here. I feel so fortunate that even though I have to hand him over every morning, I can focus on my work knowing that he’s as close by as he can be, he is safe, and he is developing through the various program offerings.”

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