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Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation Present $10,000 Check to Fort Thompson Playground in Thompson Falls
The Fort Thompson Playground (FTP) project was initiated to purchase and install an innovative, creative and visually stunning forest adventure playground in downtown Thompson Falls. This durable playground is a key feature in the City of Thompson Falls' vision to transform their Main Street into an attractive, functional and family-friendly site. The playground includes "tree house" features with a natural, forest theme in earth-tone colors, and a twister slide, tree trunk climber, fireman's pole, talk tubes, built-in wildlife, tree ring age tracer, wiggle ladder, stepping stumps, elevated platforms, as well as a tree fort roof. The project also includes site improvements i.e., benches, borders, grading, utilities, and safety-approved "fall zone" surfacing. The Playground project has three main goals:
- a) serving children, especially low income and/or needy individuals (ninety percent of the families in Thompson Falls are at or below poverty levels),
- b) promoting explorative and interactive learning and
- c) enhancing health and quality of life by providing outdoor play experiences.
The Washington Foundation will be prominently engraved as a "Major Donor" in an artistic playground entry plaque. See below for the press release from the City of Thompson Falls, which includes a list of the MRL employees who went to the playground's grand opening.
(Courtesy of the City of Thompson Falls) ?We can order the equipment now!!!!!! exclaims the Fort Thompson Playground Committee in unison. The community's vision for the Fort Thompson Playground at Rose Garden Park is to be a reality. On Monday, September 12, at the Park, Mr. Tom Walsh, Montana Rail Link's President, along with other senior management members, presented the City with a $10,000 check. Mayor Parks and committee members accepted the Foundation?s generous donation and presented them with a Certificate of Appreciation. They will also be recognized on a nice plaque prominently displayed on site, along with all the other major donors.
Mike Halligan, Executive Director of the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation states, "The Foundation and Montana Rail Link, a contributing company to the foundation, are proud to support the community of Thompson Falls in their collective effort to construct the Fort Thompson Playground project. The playground's goal of providing a creative place for children and families to enjoy family time together is consistent with our foundation's mission of, ?Investing in people to improve the quality of their lives." The central location and the innovative ideas embodied in the playground's theme, design and equipment will enhance the quality of life in Thompson Falls for many years to come. Congratulations to the organizing committee and the community in general for joining together to make this wonderful project happen."
One of Foundation's focuses is on Community Service. According to their website, "Community Service touches the lives of everyone where they work, play and live. Despite our individual differences, we are linked by common interests to do more for the places we call home. The Foundation invests in organizations that fortify this connection. When everyone is involved one way or another in the improvement of their community, the community progresses in a positive direction."
The Fort Thompson Playground Committee has been busy in their final fund-raising push. They needed $26,540, so the equipment could be purchased by September 21, before the price increase. With the $5,000 John & Jean Morbella Foundation Match challenge, the generosity of the community, this $10,000 and other grants, the committee met that goal. Therefore, the City Council authorized purchasing the equipment at their meeting Monday evening.
The project is being funded entirely through grants, private contributions, fund-raisers and raffle sales. The total project playground costs, including the site improvements, i.e., installation costs, safety surfacing, borders, benches, signs, and related site work will run about $35,000. "We have $31,000 right now,"" says Committee Chair Jennifer Fielder. There are still several donation pledges outstanding. If they come in, all site work will be able to be done. The cut-off date for donations, to be recognized for the on-site plaque, is September 21, 2011.
The playground committee raised $3,100 in raffle ticket sales alone. The winners, drawn Labor Day week-end at the Fair, were:
- Don Felstet of Superior;
- Don Safford of Hot Springs;
- Kris Dray of Plains;
- Blake Boon of Thompson Falls;
- Edward Casper visiting from California;
- Donny Privett of Plains.
Special thanks go to the local businesses donating the raffle prizes: Fred Boon of Harvest Foods, a 42? HDTV; Bratz & Associates, CPAs, a $500 US Savings bond; Quinn's Hot Springs Resorts, two lodging packages; Crazy Woman Kayaks, a family kayaking package; and, the Thompson Falls School District, a family season sports-pass.
"A BIG THANK YOU TO THE WHOLE COMMUNITY for your support and making this a reality!!!!" says Mayor Parks. The Ground Breaking celebration will be coming up soon. If you have any questions or would like more information about the project, feel free to call Mayor Parks or any FTP Committee member. (see next page for list of major donors, so far)
- DENNIS & PHYLLIS WASHINGTON FOUNDATION - $10,000.00
- JOHN & JEAN MORBELLA FOUNDATION - $5,000.00
- PLUM CREEK - $2,500.00
- TOWN PUMP CHARITABLE FOUNDATION - $1,000.00
- THOMPSON FALLS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE - $600.00
- WHITEFISH CREDIT UNION - $500.00
- CLARK FORK VALLEY HOSPITAL - $500.00
- FIRST SECURITY BANK - $500.00
- CINDY'S THROWS - $500.00
- ROCKY POINT RANCH - $500.00
- 2011 DAVID THOMPSON Columbia Brigade - $535.00
- NORTHWESTERN ENERGY - $350.00
