December 2019
“Play is our brain’s favorite way of learning.” -Diane Ackerman
Dear Neighbors,
At our core, NICE has always been about responding to the needs of GW Childs as identified by the school community. About four years ago, Principal Dr.Coutts identified a very BIG need.
The children needed a playground: A magical place to climb, stretch, and run. A space to socialize. To imagine and learn. To get fresh air. To burn energy so they can concentrate on learning for the rest of the school day. A space for children to play.
After four years of design charrettes, student and community input, meetings with the district, engineering assessments and plans, we are almost there. This summer, June 2020, we could break ground on the rooftop playground at G.W. Childs Elementary School.
But we need your help to make this happen.
Today, on Giving Tuesday, NICE is launching our Project Recess capital campaign to raise the rest of the funds needed to build the magical rooftop playground that was first imagined for GW Childs students years ago.
We have worked so hard to get to this point, and to date, we have raised over $135,000!
However, we still need an additional $195,000 so that we can break ground in 2020.
The enclosed rooftop space at GW Childs provides the foundation for what will be a unique play space for the Pre-K through Third Grade students. A playground designed to encourage creativity, to promote physical activity, and, most importantly, to build community and promote learning through cooperative play.
We have worked so hard as a community to make this vision come alive.
I invite you to make a year-end gift to NICE so that the children of Point Breeze have more opportunities to play. With your help, we can build a state-of-the-art playground that hundreds of students will enjoy for years to come.
Together, let’s create this magical play space for our neighborhood children.
With Gratitude,
Diana