Project Playground: $50k for Play

Verified Non-Profit

Verified Non-Profit

The Description

The playground at WLES has been in place since 1991. To put that in context, if the playground was a student, she or he would have already graduated from high school and earned a college degree. When the playground was built, gas cost $1.12 a gallon, Microsoft released MS-Dos 5.0, the minimum wage was $4.25/hr and New Kids on the Block performed at that year’s Super Bowl halftime show. It is time for a new playground.

Not only is the actual playground equipment in desperate need of replacement, but there are severe drainage issues at the playground site making it often unusable on rainy days or during the wet season.

With Project Playground: $50k for Play, we will be fixing the playground from top to bottom this summer!

Addressing the drainage issues, installing a brand new play surface made up of both a PIP rubber section surrounding the play structure and mulch surrounding the swings, and building a new play structure will cost near $175,000. Thanks to the generosity of our community, $110,000 of sinking fund dollars will be used towards the project. But because of rules from the state, sinking fund dollars CANNOT be used to purchase playground equipment. Thanks to a community build, instead of paying to have it installed, the entire build will be volunteer-driven, saving nearly $9,000.

The new playground design shown above was designed by students K-6 who completed a survey coordinated by our very own 2nd-graders. With additional grant funds, we hope to also add a merry-go-round and zip line as our students requested.

With around 30 minutes of recess a day, varying based on grade level, each student at WLES spends about 90 hours playing on the playground a year. Considering the cost of a playground with a lifespan of 20 years, investing $50,000, breaks down just within the first year to $1.30/hour of play per student at WLES! You spread that over 20 years, and it is a very reasonable investment. That doesn’t take into consideration the families who enjoy the facility after school hours or during the summer as well.

We know $50k is a big number. But we also see it as 500 $100 donations, or 1,000 $50, or a whole lot of $1 and $5 donations. Any bit helps. We are confident we have people like you who see the value and importance of play in the daily life of a child and the high return of investing in our students, in our facility, and in our community. Can we add your name to that list of investors? No donation is too small. We know together, we can make a HUGE impact in the lives of students at WLES and children in the Whitmore Lake community for many many years to come!

10  Reasons to Invest $50k For Play!

  1. “We really need new slides. I am so happy. My aunt calls me a monkey because I climb on everything and I want to climb out there every day. It makes feel ready to do my work when I come back in.” --Chance Carbary, First Grade

  2. “I am so excited! I love to play with my friends and we’re going to have a new design and equipment.”  -- Aubree Mills, Kindergarten

  3. “It makes me happy to think about this. I love climbing and swinging together and we are going to have some new stuff to do that on.” --Diontaze Nelson, Kindergarten

  4. “Anything that makes our school a better place is awesome. We all use the playground and I hope some of the climbing equipment is new and cool.” --Whitney Firestone, Sixth Grade

  5. “It will be better for kids. I love that it will be environmentally safe and that will make a happy place for all of us. It’s a happy place and it will now be a happier place, a place where there’s freedom and fun.”  --Liam Smith, First Grade

  6. “We really need a good clean up out there and that will make it a lot more fun for everybody when we hang out together. I love to go outdoors. It makes everything better when you come back in.” --Tristan Broderick, Third Grade

  7. “The plans we’ve seen look so exciting. It’s going to be a big thrill when we can play on the brand new structures and equipment.” --Benjamin Fox, Third Grade

  8. “I feel so good about this! I saw the plans and it so exciting to think about brand new equipment. Our school is the best.”  --MacKenzie Williams, Fourth Grade

  9. “This is so exciting. Because of the current conditions, we have indoor recess more than we should because the playground isn’t so good after a strong rain. That will change. It’s just the best news and plan for our school”  --Autumn Duncan, Fifth Grade

  10. “I saw the plans and I can’t wait for it to get started and completed. It’s going to be so great for our school!” -- Daelon Hammond, Second Grade

Other Funding Sources

-WLPS PTO $2,200

-District Sinking Fund: $110,000 

We want to recognize you for your generosity!

– DONATE up to $100, RECEIVE

  • Recognition in our weekly social media shout out

  • Name displayed on the donor board located at the new WLES playground.  

– DONATE up to $500, RECEIVE

  • A personal thank you note from a WLPS student

  • A personalized shout out on social media, including business logo if applicable.

  • Name displayed on the donor board located at the new WLES playground.

– DONATE up to $1,000, RECEIVE

  • A personal thank you note from a WLPS student and Superintendent Tom DeKeyser

  • A personalized shout out on social media, including business logo if applicable.

  • Name/Logo included on the Playground Build Shirts

  • Prominent name displayed on the donor board located at the new WLES playground.

– DONATE $1,000+ RECEIVE

  • A personal thank you note from a WLPS student, Superintendent Tom DeKeyser and a Board of Education member

  • A personalized shout out on social media, including business logo if applicable.

  • Name/Logo included on the Playground Build Shirts

  • Prominent name displayed on the donor board located at the new WLES playground.

  • Special invitation and recognition at the Playground Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Pay for the whole thing, and we will name it after you. Talk about leaving a legacy.

Back Up Plan

If we do not reach our goal we will move forward with replacing the playground during the Summer of 2018 and continue to fundraise in other ways until we reach our goal. 

Fundraiser Updates (15)

Come Join Us to Celebrate!

October 8, 2018

Hi Project Playground Supporters! We would love for you to join us for the official Ribbon Cutting Ceremony coming up later this month. To say our students are loving the new playground is an understatement. And it is all possible because of you! 

We. Did. It.

June 14, 2018

We are so excited to report that we have met our $50k for Play goal, Trojans! I cannot express to you how blown away we are by our staff, student, community, alumni, businesses, etc and YOU who have given so much to make this happen for the children in Whitmore Lake. We sincerely thank you. We look forward to sharing information with you as we continue to move forward with this project including building the new playground this July! 

What a great day to be a Trojan! 

Matching Any Day

May 23, 2018

With a week and a half to go, we are digging in with a Matching Any Day $500 match from a Trojan alumn owned business, Ann Arbor Remodeling, LLC. From now until midnight, they will match dollar for dollar up to $500 of what is invested in Project Playground. With this match, we will be a total of $44,202 raised, only $5,798 left to go to reach our goal. 

Thanks for your continued generosity. I can't believe we are so close to completely Project Playground for the children of Whitmore Lake. 

Successful Matching Monday!

May 22, 2018

Trojans, thanks to your generosity we had another successful matching Monday and broke the $43k mark! Only $7,000 until we meet our goal! We have set a build date for Saturday, July 21. If you are interested in helping build the new playground, submit information here: http://bit.ly/2keuD5e. 

Thanks for your continued support, Trojans! This is something hundreds of children will benefit from for years to come. #TrojanPride

Matching Monday

May 21, 2018

We are back with a Matching Monday courtesy of the Kiwanis Club of Whitmore Lake. They have pledged to match up to $500 that is invested today. We got this, Trojans! Please help share the cause to help us reach today's match goal. 

Home Stretch! $9,328 to go!

May 16, 2018

We had some large investments come in this weekend from the Whitmore Lake Foundation for Educational Excellence, Meijer, Kiwanis Club of Whitmore Lake and the Whitmore Lake Health Equity Leadership Team helping us reach a BIG milestone: $40,672. 

We are in the homestretch, Trojans. $9,328 to go until we reach our goal! If you break it down that is 466 people willing to invest $20 to get us to that finish line. And even as I type this, a $20 donation came in, so let's make that 465. If you join this challenge, I encourage you to challenge a friend and have them challenge a friend, and so on. Together, we can make this happen for our students.

I cannot thank you all enough for your continued support.

#TrojanPride

Another Successful Matching Monday!

May 15, 2018

Another great day to be a Trojan in the books! Thanks to all who helped make another Matching Monday a success! We appreciate all the support and generosity. And thank you to Ken and Wendy Dignan for pledging to be a matcher. We are blown away by the progress we continue to make on Project Playground. 

We will be back next Monday with another match courtesy of a phenomenal community organization, the Kiwanis Club of Whitmore Lake. 

#TrojanPride

Matching Monday

May 14, 2018

Trojans, thanks to the generosity of our school board President and his wife, we are starting the week with another Matching Monday! Ken and Wendy Dignan have pledged to match dollar for dollar up to $500 of what is donated today! Thank you for your continued support in investing in this project and spreading the world, inviting your friends to do the same. #TrojanPride

Half Way and Matching Monday

May 7, 2018

I'm proud to announce we are over half way to our goal at $25,320.99 invested in Project Playground! And we keep moving forward. Today our WLPS staff is back with another Matching Monday. From now until midnight, our staff will match dollar for dollar every investment up to $500. 

Thanks again for your support of this project through investing and helping spread the word. Pledgecents says every share on average raises $11. If we keep spreading the word, we will be there in no time. 

#TrojanPride

Another successful Matching Monday!

April 17, 2018

Thanks to all who helped make another Matching Monday a success by investing and spreading the word! And thanks to the WLPS PTO for doubling the impact of all that was donated yesterday. With our Pledgecents campaign and other fundraisers, as of today, our community has invested $19,547 in Project Playground. We are almost to the halfway point of our goal! Thanks for making it another great day to be a Trojan! 

Matching Monday brought to you by WLPS PTO!

April 16, 2018

Another Matching Monday Success!

April 10, 2018

A HUGE thank you to all the investors who gave yesterday, and for our staff who lead the way with their matching funds, to make another successful matching Monday! With the money raised on Pledgecents combined with all our other fundraisers, we have raised $13,024! We are well on our way to providing a wonderful place for the children in our community to play. 

Matching Monday!

April 9, 2018

Our very own staff at WLPS will be matching, dollar for dollar, up to $1,000 of what is donated today. We have until midnight to take advantage of this match. Let's match the generosity of our staff, Trojans! #Together $5 becomes $10, $10 becomes $20 and so on. 

Thank You WLPS PTO!

March 16, 2018

Our incredible WLPS PTO sent a check our way for $2,200 for Project Playground! They are a Recess Hero making a generous investment in our students. Thank you! 

Matching Monday!

March 12, 2018

Our first Matching Monday was a success! The anonymous donor on behalf of WLES staff submitted their match in cash to WLES, so while it won't show up here on this total, it is in the Project Playground bank account ready to go! Thanks again to our donors who doubled their investment. Want to be a Monday Matcher? Contact us at 734.449.4461 x3058 or info@wlps.net. 

Comments (10)

Barb Huang June 17, 2018

I continue to be proud of our generous and caring Whitmore Lake community and of our schools! Thank you Whitmore Lake!

WLPS Staff May 8, 2018

Thank you WL community & friends for making our Matching Monday a success!
-WLPS Staff

Erica Wallace May 7, 2018

That $50 was on behalf of Countryside Lawn and Garden Equipment. Please mention them, not me!

Heidi Roy-Borland April 16, 2018

THANK YOU to our fabulous PTO for sponsoring this Matching Monday!

Catherine Schneider April 10, 2018

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that children participate in 60 minutes of “moderate to vigorous activity per day,” and suggested that recess be part of that. “Recess is a necessary break in the day for optimizing a child’s social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development,” the AAP wrote in a 2013 policy statement. (Time, 2017)

Our children need a safe and inclusive place to play. Please support us in our efforts to raise money for our students! Thanks to all who have already given!

Heidi Roy-Borland April 10, 2018

Way to go WL Community! Thank you for surpassing the $1,000 match on behalf of the WLPS staff. Keep spreading the word...it's a great day to be a Trojan!

Sue Wanamaker April 2, 2018

All children deserve a safe, healthy and fun place to play!

Tom and Kathy DeKeyser March 19, 2018

Another great day to be a Trojan.

Emily Wilson March 19, 2018

Donation made on behalf of the Whitmore Lake Wrestling Club.

Deborah Moran March 12, 2018

John and I are happy to help out the school community that has meant so much to us. We love ❤️ Whitmore Lake!

Leave a Comment

About the Creator

I am a high school principal and superintendent for Whitmore Lake Public Schools, where every day is a great day to be a Trojan. #TrojanPride

Investments (186)

$75

Anonymous

5 years ago

$100

Linda Wetherbee

5 years ago

$20

Anonymous

5 years ago

$20

Heather Howard

5 years ago

$500

Floyd & Emily Daoust

5 years ago

$25

Amanda Warner

5 years ago

$200

Kim Stefanovski

5 years ago

$50

Anna Rickard

5 years ago

$50

Dorene Fraley

5 years ago

$505

Justin Kolic

5 years ago

$50

Laurie Beegle

5 years ago

$100

Janet Wetherbee Madouse

5 years ago

$25

Jessica Ray

5 years ago

$100

John T Counts

5 years ago

$30

Melissa Johnson

5 years ago

$100

Shane & Lindsey Collins

5 years ago

$100

Maria Carter-Ewald

5 years ago

$40

Roberta Habowski

5 years ago

$60

Anonymous

5 years ago

$100

Laura and David Watenpool

5 years ago

$15

Jackie Rendall

5 years ago

$30

Margaret J Minnich

5 years ago

$100

Brian Collingham

5 years ago

$100

Laurie Beegle

5 years ago

$150

Caroline Semrau

5 years ago

$25

Barbara Huang

5 years ago

$100

Debra Burchi

5 years ago

$20

Heidi Roy-Borland

5 years ago

$20

Kelly Henning

5 years ago

$20

Caleb Henning

5 years ago

$20

Korbyn May

5 years ago

$100

Sandra Baker

5 years ago

$500

Tom DeKeyser

5 years ago

$10

Janice Pardy

5 years ago

$20

Heather Howard

5 years ago

$50

Kelly Klump

5 years ago

$50

tawn beliger

5 years ago

$30

Lacey O’Brien

5 years ago

$50

Tom DeKeyser

5 years ago

$25

Mary Hoadley -Potts

5 years ago

$100

Lauren K Roberts

5 years ago

$50

Marta L Larson

5 years ago

$100

Anonymous

5 years ago

$25

Heidi Roy-Borland

5 years ago

$20

Faith Chaaban

5 years ago

$50

Chas Sloan

5 years ago

$30

Carolyn Otterman

5 years ago

$75

Samantha Ingles

5 years ago

$20

Chas Sloan

5 years ago

$500

WLPS Staff

5 years ago

$20

Amber Gauthier

5 years ago

$10

Jackie Rendall

5 years ago

$10

Michelle Wolfe

5 years ago

$10

Denys Whelan

5 years ago

$30

Victoria Spencer

5 years ago

$100

Anonymous

5 years ago

$100

In Memory of Jane Otterman Edwards

5 years ago

$20

Adam Ettlie

5 years ago

$50

Countryside Lawn and Garden Equipment

5 years ago

$100

Terry and Sandi Klump

5 years ago

$25

Andrew McDonald

5 years ago

$50

Blake and Joyce Roberts

5 years ago

$25

Heather Agee

5 years ago

$50

Kay Akins

5 years ago

$50

Katie Curts

5 years ago

$25

Todd & Wendy Carbary

6 years ago

$1,000

Whitmore Lake PTO

6 years ago

$20

Angela Avey

6 years ago

$20

Jennifer Lathrop

6 years ago

$50

Angela Brown

6 years ago

$50

Girl Scout Troop 40164

6 years ago

$50

Girl Scout Troop 40164

6 years ago

$500

Laurie Beegle

6 years ago

$10

Diane McGee

6 years ago

$10

Anonymous

6 years ago

$10

Danyel Housner

6 years ago

$50

Artan Dalipi

6 years ago

$10

Marian Holtz

6 years ago

$100

Lorena Ramey

6 years ago

$50

Jessi Wonnacott

6 years ago

$50

Steve Johnson

6 years ago

$20

Heidi Roy-Borland

6 years ago

$10

Theresa Blandin

6 years ago

$100

Xanthe Muller

6 years ago

$10

Shane & Lindsey Collins

6 years ago

$20

Alyssia Baird

6 years ago

$10

Chas Sloan

6 years ago

$10

Maria Carter-Ewald

6 years ago

$25

Heidi Roy-Borland

6 years ago

$25

Anonymous

6 years ago

$40

Anonymous

6 years ago

$500

George and Mary Gibson

6 years ago

$20

Countryside Lawn and Garden Equipment

6 years ago

$10

Kellie Morrison

6 years ago

$1,000

Jim and Mia Bennardi

6 years ago

$500

Marlene Beck

6 years ago

$100

Patricia Fisher

6 years ago

$1,000

WLPS Staff

6 years ago

$50

Anonymous

6 years ago

$200

Michael P. McCabe

6 years ago

$265

Denise Kerrigan

6 years ago

$10

Anonymous

6 years ago

$100

Heather Agee

6 years ago

$100

Amanda McClain

6 years ago

$100

Jamie Leann

6 years ago

$50

Wayne and Deanne Everard

6 years ago

$50

Debra Burchi

6 years ago

$100

Jody Lamkin

6 years ago

$100

Kendra Smith

6 years ago

$50

Mary Johnson

6 years ago

$25

Jacqueline Stephens

6 years ago

$200

Kathleen Donahue

6 years ago

$20

Catherine Schneider

6 years ago

$200

Sue Wanamaker

6 years ago

$50

Sandra Bitner

6 years ago

$250

Peter Pekkala

6 years ago

$1,000

JOHN AND RAMONA MEADOWS

6 years ago

$100

Anonymous

6 years ago

$25

Jennifer Taylor

6 years ago

$25

Margaret J Minnich

6 years ago

$25

In Memory of Jane Otterman Edwards

6 years ago

$100

Kim Bakker

6 years ago

$10

Kim Thoman

6 years ago

$100

Johna & Jeremie Russell

6 years ago

$100

Hunter Hicks

6 years ago

$50

Linda Spina

6 years ago

$25

Janice Pardy

6 years ago

$50

Marta L Larson

6 years ago

$100

mary erickson

6 years ago

$40

JOHN AND RAMONA MEADOWS

6 years ago

$100

Anonymous

6 years ago

$50

Stephanie Macneill

6 years ago

$30

Lisa Reardon

6 years ago

$50

Angela Hicks

6 years ago

$50

Lisa Ely

6 years ago

$50

Marci Restorick

6 years ago

$50

Terry Bond-Manville

6 years ago

$25

Barbara Huang

6 years ago

$100

Kim Stefanovski

6 years ago

$50

Nicole Schmaus

6 years ago

$1,000

WLPS Transportation

6 years ago

$20

Countryside Lawn and Garden Equipment

6 years ago

$50

Glen Ewald

6 years ago

$50

Dawn Collins

6 years ago

$18

Helena Hunt

6 years ago

$10

Laurie Canter

6 years ago

$200

Tom DeKeyser

6 years ago

$10

Victoria Spencer

6 years ago

$10

Jeni Olney

6 years ago

$10

Anonymous

6 years ago

$10

Caitlin Spencer

6 years ago

$15

Kim Thoman

6 years ago

$100

Anonymous

6 years ago

$10

Victoria Spencer

6 years ago

$10

Georgene Dignan

6 years ago

$50

Joshua LaDow

6 years ago

$50

Tara Ouillette

6 years ago

$50

Don and Cindi Lees

6 years ago

$20

Anonymous

6 years ago

$10

Joshua LaDow

6 years ago

$100

Janet Chick

6 years ago

$10

Anonymous

6 years ago

$150

Whitmore Lake Wrestiling Club

6 years ago

$100

Ralph & Nancy Roy

6 years ago

$50

Cindy Johnson

6 years ago

$100

Darcy Ianni

6 years ago

$10

Anonymous

6 years ago

$25

Amy Anderson

6 years ago

$20

Bradie Fox

6 years ago

$50

Anonymous

6 years ago

$100

Bethany Vibbart

6 years ago

$100

Debra Burchi

6 years ago

$100

Deborah Moran

6 years ago

$5

Jacalynn Papazian

6 years ago

$50

Wendi Schumacher

6 years ago

$50

Linda Kuehnel

6 years ago

$25

Carol Vibbart

6 years ago

$100

Shane & Lindsey Collins

6 years ago

$25

Tara Zolenski

6 years ago

$100

Melissa Heuker

6 years ago

$100

Carolyn Otterman

6 years ago

$100

Lois Lamparski

6 years ago

$100

Heidi Roy-Borland

6 years ago

$50

Meghan Hartley

6 years ago

$50

Kelly Klump

6 years ago

$20

Jess Garrett

6 years ago