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02/15/08: Keystone Mercy Health Plan personnel began their search for a "Playground Build" site in Norristown, Pa. by searching community centers, recreation areas and public schools to find the location that is in the most need of a "safe place to play" for their children.
03/04/08: Keystone Mercy met with Bob Malkowski of the Norristown Area School District, Joanne Gillespie, Principal of Hancock Elementary and Vanessa Diaz, Treasurer of the Parent Faculty Association to discuss details of placing new equipment on their site and refurbish existing 40 year old equipment. We agreed on a date for the Build Day which will be Friday, May 9th. The official groundbreaking will be Monday, May 5th.
03/13/08: Plans were made with Principle Gillespie to hold a student assembly at Hancock on March 28th to introduce the playground and discuss the value of safe play.
03/18/08: The playground equipment was ordered today and we are ready to go!
03/28/08: The student assembly was a huge success! Teachers, students, administration and representatives from Keystone Mercy Health Plan watched as students from each grade recited poems and displayed posters thanking Keystone for their playground donation. The students gasped as Anne Morrisey from Keystone Mercy and Principle Gillespie unveiled a photo of their "soon-to-be-installed" playground. Check out the photos of the assembly above.
04/10/08: Fourth Grader Tanisha Martinez' drawing of what she thought the playground should look like was chosen as the one to be feautured on the front of the Keystone Mercy Health Plan's Build Day t-shirts. Check out Tanisha's rendition in the photos above.
05/02/08: Groundbreaking Day (May 5th) and Build Day (May 9th) are fast approaching and the following local businesses have generously given their time and resources to help make both days a success. Panera Breads, Starbucks, Dunkin' Donuts, Amadeao's and Suzy Joe's, all located in the Norristown area, are donating food and drink for breakfast and lunch for our hardworking volunteers on both Monday and Friday. We and the children of Hancock Elementary are truly grateful!
05/03/08: Muralist Alyssa Baldwin, Principal Joanne Gillespie and Mimi Gallen of Keystone Mercy unselfishly gave of their time Saturday by working on the beginning stages of the mural to be completed on Build Day.
05/05/08: Principal Joanne Gillespie announced today that over $200.00 was raised for the Playground on a "Pretzel Drive" spear headed by Hancock students and staff and generously supported by the community!
05/06/08: There were two benches generously donated that will be placed on the playground for the students and faculty to enjoy. The first donor comes from the firm of Mack-Cali. The second is dedicated in memory of Dr. Bill Chodoff who's favorite quote was from John F. Kennedy
“"Children are the world’s most valuable resource and its best hope for the future"”
05/05/08: The Groundbreaking Day attended by Keystone Mercy Health Plan and Hancock Elementary staff members, as well as local politicians, NASD officials and other community members, went off without a hitch today. The weather cooperated as the kids listened anxiously as Principal Gillespie, Anne Morrissey and Maria Pajil-Battle of Keystone Mercy, Superintendent Dr. Janet Samuels and Councilman Gary Simpson spoke of the importance of safe play spaces for our children. Ms. Morrissey encouraged all community members to get involved in the Build Day and led the students in a "Sun Dance" to help assure good weather on May 9th! (Check out the photos above)
05/09/08: Well, the "sun dance" didn't work..... Torrential down pours prevented from us from building today. But not to worry! "Build Day" has been rescheduled for Wednesday, May 21st with the exact same activities planned.
05/21/08: Finally Mother Nature cooperated and provided 60+ volunteers a glorious, sunny day to work their miracles. Hancock personnel, NASD staff, Keystone Mercy employees, local politicians and community members all pitched-in to provide the students of Hancock Elementary a new safe place to play. A new playground structure, the refurbishing of old equipment, an exciting mural, new benches and new trees were all part of this massive and successful effort. The volunteers were there at the crack of dawn and were finished at 2:30 pm, in time for the students to sample their efforts. Food was provided for both breakfast and lunch by local businesses and the rains held long enough for Anne Morrissey of Keystone Mercy to perform the ribbon cutting. Principle Joanne Gillespie was plenty pleased with the results as were all the attendees.
Hancock
HEALTHY TIMES