August 31, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Hazel Grove Elementary School to Dedicate New Playground Equipment

Students, staff, parents and community members will gather for a special dedication at Hazel Grove Elementary School, Kansas City, Kan., on Friday, August 31.

The dedication will be for the school's new playground equipment. The special ceremony is set to begin at 1:30 p.m. At the event, four fifth-grade students will read special essays titled, "What the new playground equipment means to me."

Acquiring and installing the new equipment has been a goal of the school for the past two years. The process started as one parent's vision. The playground equipment at the school was old. It was made of old materials, such as wood and chains. They actually needed two sets of playground equipment, she thought, since students at Hazel Grove occupy two buildings that are located about a block apart.

It didn't take long for Monica Crowe to convince the rest of the PTA that money needed to be raised for new playground equipment. The cost of new equipment was estimated at $36,000. They held a pancake breakfast, school carnivals, and skating parties. They sold blow pops

PTA members soon realized that their fund raisers weren't raising money fast enough. So, they hired Gail Vertz, former Kansas State PTA president, to help them write grants. They received a couple, but it was still not enough.

Then, an anonymous donor stepped up. The donor, a friend of Hazel Grove and unknown to anyone except Crowe, offered his help. His donation of more than $15,000 brought the Hazel Grove PTA to the realization of part of their dream. The PTA now had enough money to purchase one set of playground equipment.

Sue Elliott, principal, was supportive of this project from the beginning. Now, she went into action. She contacted Dr. Cindy Lane, assistant superintendent for business and instructional support. Lane agreed to fund the installation of the playground equipment.

So now part of the dream has been realized. Thanks to the cooperation of Ira Lourie, director of physical properties, the playground equipment was installed on the playground of the west building just before the beginning of the school year.

Students in the school have made posters and thank you cards for the PTA and the anonymous donor. All will be present at the dedication — except for that anonymous benefactor. The Hazel Grove students and staff, as well as the PTA wish him well — and will be forever grateful.

Students in Mrs. Johnston's third grade class at Hazel Grove Elementary School play on the school's new playground equipment.

Melissa Crowe, student in Mrs. Johnston's third grade class at Hazel Grove Elementary School gets ready to slide down the slide of the new playground equipment that her mother, Monica, was instrumental in helping the school acquire.