Subject:
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LEGO® Systems, Inc. donates $250,000 to help Rotary Club of Enfield
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.mediawatch
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Date:
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Wed, 18 Jan 2012 18:45:06 GMT
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Viewed:
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25472 times
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LEGO donates $250,000 to help Rotary Club of Enfield build accessible
playground
By Elizabeth Roman, The Republican
January 17, 2012
ENFIELD– A large contribution from the LEGO® Children’s Fund will make it
possible for the Rotary Club of Enfield, Conn., to build an accessible
playground and park.
LEGO recently donated $250,000 toward the project, which was an idea brought
forward by the Rotary Club’s former president, Lindsey Weber, in 2009.
“At the time, I was pregnant with my first child. I now have two young children,
and I know many families who go to Somers or Longmeadow to play at these
playgrounds because we do not have one in town,” she said.
Weber said the playground and the surrounding park are intended to bring
families together in an outdoor, healthy setting.
“So many kids spend their time indoors playing video games, and this will be a
way for families to spend time together outside,” she said.
Current Rotary President Michael Helechu said the project will hopefully be
completed by this summer.
“We initially thought there would be a three to five year fundraising effort,
but thanks to this major corporate donation, we will be able to put the
playground in this summer,” he said. “We will raise additional funds to enhance
the park area, but this is the bulk of the money we will need.”
Edward Palomba, chairman of the playground committee, said the playground will
be built near the Enfield Public Library on Middle Road. It will include ramps
for wheelchair accessibility and a rubberized ground. The playground will also
include a pavilion with benches and picnic tables. The park will also be near
existing softball fields.
“We’re hoping families can take advantage of the library, the playground and the
fields,” he said.
Brian Specht, vice president of operations at LEGO, said the company’s
Children’s Fund was created to help organizations that serve children.
“We feel we have an obligation as a company to give back to the community,”
Specht said. The LEGO headquarters has been in Enfield since 1975. (1)
Specht said this is an exciting opportunity and is the largest visual
contribution the company has made.
“We are looking forward to seeing the project move ahead,” he said.
Weber said the playground will also be accessible to grandparents or other
relatives who want to play with their children or grandchildren.
“Mostly people think of the children, but this will benefit entire families,”
she said.
Masslive.com
(1) According to LEGO timeline. LEGO Systems Inc., US headquarters has been in
operation in Enfield since 1973.
-end of report-
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