Through the generosity of the Saratoga Springs Rotary Club and AJ Arpey
Inc. of Ballston Spa, the children living in the Allen Drive area will
now have a safe place to play and get fresh air.
The Saratoga Springs Affordable Housing Group was the 2009 recipient of the Rotary Club's Major Gift Program which donates a grant of $5,000 to $30,000 to deserving applicants each year, dependent upon how much money is raised at the Rotary Club's annual Home and Garden Show.
"Affordable housing is a huge issue right now in Saratoga Springs," said Deborah Miles Czech, Rotary Club member and past president. "We were also thinking of the health of the children living in that area."
The donation of $22,000 to the Affordable Housing Group and with A.J. Arpey Inc. agreeing to donate their time, there is now a playground and park located on Allen Drive, built just in time for more tenants to move to the area next year. The Affordable Housing Group received $1.8 million in state funding to build 15 new units for working class families - nine three-bedroom homes and six one-bedroom homes with three reserved for people with disabilities.
"This is more than just a playground. There are benches, trees; it's a very nice park for the residents," said Ed Spychalski, president of the Saratoga Springs Affordable Housing Group.
According to Maria Heise, chairperson of the Major Gift Program, there were 18 applicants for the grant this year - the highest number in many years.
"This was a very hard decision because everyone is in the same shape with the economy, but this is something that the Affordable Housing Group needed," she said.
Before the playground was built there were no recreational areas for the children to get outdoors and play, nor was there proper public transportation for them to get to a play area.
"This was a good donation considering the number of children living in the area, plus the 150 families living in surrounding areas who don't have a place to play. There are no recreation or exercise programs in the that part of town and parents need a place for their kids to go to get them out of the house and away from the television where they know the kids will be safe," Heise said.
The playground was given to the group in honor of local restaurant and lodging entrepreneurs Steve Sullivan and Yvonne Sinnamon whose generosity has supported many community service initiatives.
The Saratoga Springs Rotary has been serving the community for more than 85 years through financial donations as well as their own members donating their time and expertise to local causes and organizations.
The club meets every Wednesday at 12:15 at Longfellows Restaurant to discuss their community and international service activities. Funds raised by the Home and Garden Show, which will take place the weekend of February 26, 2010, and other small fundraising activities support four initiatives: donations to local organizations, scholarships, major financial gifts to deserving local organizations and support of Rotary International's humanitarian, educational and peace-building initiatives around the world.
For more information, visit www.saratogarotary.com.
"Affordable housing is a huge issue right now in Saratoga Springs," said Deborah Miles Czech, Rotary Club member and past president. "We were also thinking of the health of the children living in that area."
The donation of $22,000 to the Affordable Housing Group and with A.J. Arpey Inc. agreeing to donate their time, there is now a playground and park located on Allen Drive, built just in time for more tenants to move to the area next year. The Affordable Housing Group received $1.8 million in state funding to build 15 new units for working class families - nine three-bedroom homes and six one-bedroom homes with three reserved for people with disabilities.
"This is more than just a playground. There are benches, trees; it's a very nice park for the residents," said Ed Spychalski, president of the Saratoga Springs Affordable Housing Group.
According to Maria Heise, chairperson of the Major Gift Program, there were 18 applicants for the grant this year - the highest number in many years.
"This was a very hard decision because everyone is in the same shape with the economy, but this is something that the Affordable Housing Group needed," she said.
Before the playground was built there were no recreational areas for the children to get outdoors and play, nor was there proper public transportation for them to get to a play area.
"This was a good donation considering the number of children living in the area, plus the 150 families living in surrounding areas who don't have a place to play. There are no recreation or exercise programs in the that part of town and parents need a place for their kids to go to get them out of the house and away from the television where they know the kids will be safe," Heise said.
The playground was given to the group in honor of local restaurant and lodging entrepreneurs Steve Sullivan and Yvonne Sinnamon whose generosity has supported many community service initiatives.
The Saratoga Springs Rotary has been serving the community for more than 85 years through financial donations as well as their own members donating their time and expertise to local causes and organizations.
The club meets every Wednesday at 12:15 at Longfellows Restaurant to discuss their community and international service activities. Funds raised by the Home and Garden Show, which will take place the weekend of February 26, 2010, and other small fundraising activities support four initiatives: donations to local organizations, scholarships, major financial gifts to deserving local organizations and support of Rotary International's humanitarian, educational and peace-building initiatives around the world.
For more information, visit www.saratogarotary.com.
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