Women who build
The Women's Fund was honored to sponsor the recent “Women Who Build” event back Aug 15th at Read Elementary School to benefit the school’s new “destination playground” project. The event hoped to inspire the next generation that "girls can do anything!"
The Women's Fund provided both financial support as well as women-powered sweat-equity the day of the event; which brought together over 100 women, girls and community members. Gathering to use our hands as an extension of their wallets was a memorable experience. The “Women Who Build” event was part of a nearly year-long campaign, to bring a new playground and outdoor activity spaces to this neighborhood school.
Donating and supporting projects or organizations thru financial means is the primary way in which the Women’s Fund makes a local impact. This event was a welcome and unique opportunity for our volunteers & donors to take a physically active role in the meaningful work we do in the community. Projects like this don’t come around often so when project leader, Jennifer Skolaski approached us to participate, we were fully on board.
There was so much interest in fact, the number of volunteers had to be capped. It was an inspiring and empowering day of service for all those who participated.
Some of the volunteer projects include gardening, landscaping, spray painting bike racks and painting the driveway to look like a candy land themed game.
School Principal Emily Eisenschink, stated that the new playground will support the current physical and mental needs of students through the use of alternative educational tools. It will also remind kids that they matter and deserve a good life.
Playgrounds are shown to have numerous benefits to the communities and families nearby. The fire safety theme for the playground stemmed from a collaboration with the Oshkosh Fire Dept. Another example of how this project connected numerous areas of the community. This was a powerful example of many hands make light work & the power of community for the greater good.
