Lafayette Elementary School PTA is sponsoring Play it Forward - Lafayette Elementary Playground Legacy Project. Building Healthy Kids and Healthy minds.

The project includes building a new play structure with much needed ADA Accessibility and play components. The area surrounding the play structure will include seating and planting to create a more park like environment for the community to enjoy.

They are competing for a Department of Neighborhoods grant for $100,000, and need to match that amount with $100,000 in cash, donations and volunteer hours. They are scheduled to begin construction in June, 2011. To meet these goals, they are hosting a series of fundraising events that will take place during the next ten months:

Sports Swap
Sports Swap is an annual event that serves Lafayette Elementary School and the greater West Seattle community. Proceeds will benefit the continued development and maintenance of the playground. The community can bring gently used sporting goods for consignment sale or donation. Support from local businesses is welcome. Mountain to Sound Outfitters has sponsored the event this year by donating two snowboards for sale.
Date: April 23 & 24 (drop-off items) April 25 (sale)
Location: Lafayette Elementary School Cafeteria
Specific Participation Information

Lafayette “Parents’ Playdate” Event
This will be a relaxed opportunity to build relationships in the Lafayette community and to educate parents about the playground needs, the proposed design and fundraising goals. Ticket prices will be minimal; t-shirt sale with ticket sale; silent auction, donor recognition tiles and food/beverage sales at the event.
Date: June 2010
Location: TBD; venue to be a local West Seattle business to further raise awareness of the project.

Donor Recognition Tiles
Support the project and purchase tiles that will commemorate your gift. Tiles will be worked in to the larger playground design and will most likely be represented in a mural. (NOTE: Larger donors will have the option to purchase benches, boulders or other large items to commemorate their gift if they desire.) Check back soon for more information or to purchase a tile.

Lafayette Student Designed Gift Cards and T-Shirts
At Lafayette's bi-annual Art Fair, student designed gift cards and t-shirts will be for sale. The winner of the art design will have their design imprinted on a t-shirt for sale at Lafayette events.
Date: June

Dinner and Evening Events
Lafayette parents have agreed to host dinner/evening parties at their homes or out at local restaurants with other Lafayette parents and other neighbors. The idea is to have more quality time to explain the need to create a safer more accessible playground and secure donations from dinner attendees.
Date: TBA
Movie Night
An annual event for parents and the community for summer outdoor theater experience.
Date: August

Lafayette PTA
The Lafayette Playground Committee has made a priority request from the PTA for funding toward the playground project the requested amount for 2010 is $18,000. The PTA has already generously contributed $6,000 towards design in 2009.
Corporate and Individual Donations
In addition to these events, the Lafayette Playground Fundraising Committee will be soliciting donations from West Seattle businesses, primarily those in the neighboring area and those frequented by Lafayette parents. Potential businesses to be solicited by specific members of the fundraising committee include:

Safeway
Starbucks
PCC
Target
Subway
North Admiral businesses
The Committee will also solicit large donations from individuals similar to the $10,000 contribution that was made in December of 2009.

For more information or to get involved:
Janine Bostock, Chair Playground Steering Committee,
E mail: janine@avadesignbuild.com
Phone: (206) 323-6619

Deborah Hazlegrove, Chair, Playground Fundraising
E mail: deborah@civicgroup.net