The Ècole St. Adolphe School playground fundraising committee is still hard at work, keeping a sharp focus on installing a modern new outdoor play zone at the school for children to enjoy.

The old play structure was removed last summer after it was deemed unsafe for continued use. Since then, the fundraising committee, composed mostly of parents, has answered the call.

All that stands between them and their end goal is $250,000, around $52,000 of which is already in the coffers.

Their latest 50/50 fundraiser is hoped to be successful. Success would mean netting somewhere in the tens of thousands for both the committee and the winner of the draw.

Currently at just under $2,500, the draw will run through the month of June with the winning ticket pulled at the school on June 30. Tickets are available for purchase online (see link below). 

Michelle Prairie is president of the school’s parent advisory council and a member of the fundraising team. Along with local donations, she says that the committee is hopeful that some government funding will be accessible to them as well.

“A lot of the available grants are just opening up now, so we’ve been applying for all of them,” Prairie says. “But to raise over $52,000 since last September shows just how supportive our school family is.”

To open their fundraising initiative, a social was held last fall, resulting in proceeds of just under $14,000. Another $3,000 has been raised through Krispy Kreme donut sales.

A variety of small and larger donations have also trickled in from individuals and businesses.

“If everything aligns and we get some of the grants we’ve applied for, we’ve decided that, if we reach a good amount, we can [get started],” Prairie says. “Maybe over the summer we can start prepping [the grounds].”

Some of that ground prep includes the removal of the existing pea gravel. To support their end goal of creating a fully accessible play zone, the gravel will be replaced by a mobility-friendly surface.

If there are landscapers, she says, or others who are willing to contribute gifts of service, the committee is more than willing to add their names to the donor board planned for the site.

While the $250,000 goal is admittedly lofty, Prairie says that some of the committee’s staying power comes from the incredible support they’ve received from the community so far.

“If nothing else, this experience has taught our fundraising committee how great our community really is.”