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Rotary Club: Wasilla Sunrise Project Title: Williwaw Inclusive Playground 1. Describe the project. What was done, when and where did project activities take place? The most economically challenged area in the greater Wasilla community is the Williwaw Subdivision. Almost two years ago, Wasilla Sunrise Rotary Club (WSRC) Rotarians were approached by the Mat Su Health Foundation Executive Director to build a playground/park in the Williwaw neighborhood similar to the all-inclusive playground WSRC had built in 2013 in the highly visible Newcomb Park at Wasilla Lake in downtown Wasilla. WSRC Rotarians met with members in the Williwaw community eager to create a positive environment in their community and turn it around from its reputation as a crime and drug infested neighborhood. A plan was developed for the community leaders in Williwaw to form a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation called Families for the Improvement of Safety & Health (FISH). The non-profit petitioned to the Mat Su Borough for the deeding of a 1/3-acre parcel in Williwaw to the community for the development of the playground. After the lot was transferred, FISH applied to Mat Su Trails and Parks Foundation for a $40,000 grant for the playground which was just approved on March 15, 2019. In addition, FISH is in the process of successfully gathering additional cash donations and in-kind donations from professionals such as a landscape playground architect and construction and heavy equipment operators. Following public testimony to the Mat Su Borough Assembly on February 19, 2019 by Rotarians, local school officials and vested homeowners, the Mat Su Borough approved and deeded the 1/3-acre lot to FISH. Based on an ask from a past president of WSRC, a landscape architect from Coffman Engineers has donated professional services to design the playground park. Over the last three weekends, homeowners in addition to professionals donating their equipment and services, have cleared the lot of trees and stumps and now the lot is being prepped for the installation of the playground equipment in June 2019. As our Rotary Club anticipated, our $5,000 grant has totally jump started a neighborhood revitalization of the Williwaw community. WSRC championed obtaining the lot from the Mat Su Borough used for the development of a community playground and picnic area and provided professional advice for the application of grants and gathering of other donations, both cash and in-kind. Several Rotarians and other private sector donors have written checks to FISH. 2. How many people benefited from this project? The Williwaw neighborhood consists of around 450 parcels with many community minded people and hundreds of small children. We anticipate that over 1,000 adults and children will benefit from the building of this playground, park and community gathering area. 3. Who were the beneficiaries, how were they impacted by this project, and what humanitarian need was met? The beneficiaries of this project are the many children that live in Williwaw that have no nearby park or playground. Williwaw is situated off a busy roadway with little access to bike paths or trails to other playgrounds or parks. The project has brought together a community that was struggling with high incidences of crime in their neighborhood – allowing them to provide a safe playground for their many hundreds of children. The intangible benefit to our initial grant was to create a positive attitude amongst a very challenged low-income neighborhood which has successfully been accomplished. 4. How many Rotarians participated in the project? At least 30 Rotarians have participated in this project. 5. What did they do? Please give at least two examples, not including financial support provided to the project. Several WSRC Rotarians testified to the Mat Su Borough Assembly members in favor of the Borough deeding the playground lot to FISH. This show of support from local business community members was very instrumental in the Borough Assembly knowing that there was wide spread community support for the project. A WSRC Rotarian convinced his engineering firm and his fellow engineer who has experience in playground architecture to donate their services in designing the playground for FISH. This has resulted in several thousands of dollars of like-kind services being donated to the project. Several WSRC Rotarians provided their expertise and professional connections in obtaining a $40,000 grant from the Mat Su Trails and Parks Foundation. The Treasurer of FISH is now an active Rotarian with WSRC – building goodwill and better friendships. Go Rotary! 6. If a cooperating organization was involved, what was its role? The non-profit organization FISH, formed by the homeowners in Williwaw, was an important partner in the project. FISH has taken ownership of the lot donated by the Mat Su Borough. FISH is also a 501(c)(3) charitable organization which allowed for it to apply for the grant of $40,000. FISH will provide its own community maintenance with the positive relationship with WSRC. 7. Income
8. Expenditures
District must retain receipts of all expenditures for at least five years. Please scan and upload to the project's "Documents" tab all invoices (be sure they are marked "paid"), receipts and/or copies of checks for the full amount of the project budget. By signing this report, I confirm that to the best of my knowledge these District Grant funds were spent only for eligible items in accordance with Trustee-approved guidelines, and that all of the information contained herein is true and accurate. I also understand that all photographs submitted in connection with this report will become the property of RI and will not be returned. I warrant that I own all rights in the photographs, including copyright, and herby grant RI and TRF a royalty free irrevocable license to use the photographs now or at any time in the future, throughout the world in any manner it so chooses and in any medium now known or later developed. This includes the right to modify the photograph(s) as necessary in RI's sole discretion. This also includes, without limitation, use on or in the web site, magazines, brochures, pamphlets, exhibitions and any other promotional materials of RI and TRF.
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