Casino partners give $25K to daycare

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - A gaming company interested in developing a casino in Springfield's North End gave a financial gift on Thursday to a daycare that was destroyed in the Worthington Street Explosion.

It was a win-win for both parties.

Penn National is getting their name out there while a daycare gets a much needed financial boost.

Christmas came early for some kids in Springfield.

Santa visited the children of Square One daycare and gave them a check for $25,000 to help them get back on their feet after the daycare's Chestnut Street location was destroyed in the Worthington Explosion.

"We've been very fortunate that the community is really stepping forward to help us out,"  said Joan Kagan, President/CEO of Square One.

The money, while delivered from the North Pole, was a gift from Penn National Gaming and Peter and Melissa Picknelly; financial partners hoping to build a casino in Springfield's North End.

Kagan says they're facing costs and lost revenue that insurance just can't make up for, so this money is really needed to ensure those kinds who were displaced from this facility have what they need in the other facilities.

The site of the explosion isn't a part of the casino proposal, but developers say, this was an opportunity to start building relationships with their neighbors.

"We are getting started early, we don't have a property here yet, but it really does hopefully show people how Penn National cares about the communities in which it operates," said Penn National's Eric Schippers.

It's still unclear if the daycare on Chestnut street will be rebuilt, but Square One says this at least gives them a chance to rebuy a few things that were lost to get the 98 displaced children feeling at home.

"You know these are the future leaders of our community and it's really important to support them," said Peter Picknelly.

More specific details of the casino proposal are expected on December 11th.