SUBMITTED NEWS RELEASE
Community’s universally accessible playground meets fundraising goal and begins project design
The Junior League of Reno has met its fundraising goal to build a Universally Accessible Playground (UAP) thanks in large part to a generous donation from the Harrah’s Foundation. On Thursday, Nov. 11, the Harrah’s Foundation presented Junior League with a $70,000 check, which will help the UAP begin the design phase of the project. The two-year park project is a culmination of a $250,000 fundraising campaign where local organizations generously contributed financial and in-kind donations to the project. The park is the first of its kind in the region and construction will begin in summer 2011.
“The Junior League of Reno is so excited to have met our fundraising goal and we could not have done it without the support of the Harrah’s Foundation and other local businesses, said Lesley Nygaard, UAP chairperson for Junior League of Reno. “From the very beginning, this was a community-led project and we anticipate bringing in community member’s to help design the playground.”
Over the next several months, Junior League of Reno will work with the local community to design and build the new playground. Community members will have an opportunity to participate in focus groups where they can offer design and construction ideas.
“We take great pride in partnering with local organizations and it is an honor to be part of a community project that will benefit so many families in the area,” said Terry Snodgrass of the Harrah’s Foundation. “Over the next several months, we look forward to the design and construction of the new park.”
The Harrah’s Foundation is a national, private organization that provides funding to non-profits throughout the country. Locally, the foundation has supported non-profits who make great strides to provide quality education for students, make a difference in the community through volunteer projects, and provide underserved populations with the tools and resources needed for success.
“As part of our commitment to providing recreation for citizens with all ranges of needs and abilities, we continue to look for projects that reinforce this vision,” said Terry Zeller, park development planner for the City of Reno. “This playground project sets a great example for the community and shows the possibilities for making our local parks more accessible to all children and families.”
Donated by the City of Reno, the former Dick Taylor Park, located near the University of Nevada, Reno, will be the site of the new UAP. The first fully accessible park in the region will meet current ADA standards and feature special equipment where children and family members with and without disabilities can play together. The park project received support from several northern Nevada business and community organizations, including Barrick Gold, Nell J. Redfield Foundation, NV Energy and Whole Foods.
For more information about the Junior League of Reno or to learn about the progress of the project, visit www.jlreno.org.
The Junior League of Reno (JLR) is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization which has served the Reno-Sparks area since 1978. It is comprised of female volunteers committed to building a better community through community action, education and volunteerism. The first Junior League chapter started in New York in 1901. There are now 292 Junior Leagues in Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom and the United States. JLR’s vision is to create a lasting impact on the community by enriching the quality of life for women and children through innovative projects, effective advocacy, generous community grants, and collaborative partnerships remains unchanged. The Junior League of Reno has a rich history of community partnerships and projects. Each year, the Junior League of Reno sponsors a number of community projects intended to bring about change, growth and improvement. Current projects include: Susan G. Komen Race for The Cure, Universally Accessible Playground (UAP) Project, Done-In-A-Day Projects, Healthy Kids Fair, Kids in the Kitchen, and Nevada Discovery Museum Partnership.
The Harrah’s Foundation is a private foundation established to provide financial support to qualified organizations. Created in 2002 as part of the company’s ongoing commitment to communities, the Foundation is funded by Harrah’s properties and supports reinvestment programs in communities where our employees live and work. The Harrah’s Foundation focuses the majority of its funding in three strategic categories: senior citizens, education initiatives and civic programs. Since its formation, the Harrah’s Foundation has committed nearly $66 million to nonprofit organizations worldwide, providing much needed support for local and national programs that benefit our communities. In 2007, Business Week placed Harrah’s Entertainment among the top corporate donors in the country, ranking the company the “most generous cash giver” among Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index companies.
