Oakwood Seeks Pepsi Refresh Grant -- Again
If at first you don't succeed, try again.
The All Fun, No Limits Playground project at the Oakwood Center for Exceptional Families is once again up for consideration through the Pepsi Refresh grant program.
The project would bring a fully accessible climbing mound and tree fort to the Dearborn facility, which serves families with special needs children from throughout southeastern Michigan.
Oakwood tried to secure the $50,000 grant in December, but fell short of the required votes to make it happen. The project received enough votes through social media and daily text messages to bring it back for another month, however.
"We appreciate all the support we've already received," said Tammy Morris, manager of the CEF. "We hope our families and the community will work with us to bring this unique facility to the community."
The $50,000 grant would fund the installation of the all-inclusive playscape feature that includes a sloped climbing area that provides different methods for children of all ability levels to make their way to the top. A covered tree fort rests at the top of the mound, which also features a double-wide slide that can be used by the children and their therapists — or siblings or parents — at the same time.
"I am so excited for this play structure ... It allows access for any child with a disability, allows for creative play for all children, and is also great fun for kids in therapy working on a whole bunch of physical skills, climbing skills and social skills," Morris said. "I love the fact that by nature a 'fort' is an exclusive club and ours is going to be the most 'inclusive' fort in the area."
The Pepsi Refresh project started a year ago, when the company decided to divert funds normally spent on advertising during the NFL Super Bowl to a large number of projects throughout the nation. Grants, totaling $1.3 million each month, are chosen through popular vote. The top 10 projects in each category receive funding, from $5,000 to $250,000. The top 100 are automatically rolled over to the next cycle.
To vote for the Oakwood CEF All Fun No Limits project, text '104539' to Pepsi (73774) or visit www.refresheverything.com/allfunnolimits. You can vote for the project via text and online once a day until the end of the month.
Morris said the online voting wither way only takes seconds, and it's a good way to support the facility for those who may not otherwise be able to.
"For years we have had families and friends of the program, who may not have a lot of money, but have still wanted to help the Center and our patients and families," said Morris. "Now, in addition to volunteering, we have another way that families can help us without spending even a dime — they can help by just going to the Pepsi Refresh website and voting for our playground every day."
Based in Dearborn, the Center for Exceptional Families is an institution unique to southeastern Michigan that provides a family-centered approach to care and education of special needs children and their families. The CEF provides high-quality health care, social counseling, mental health services and physical therapy that enables young people to take on leadership and advocacy roles in their community and helps them transition to adulthood and independence. The CEF annually serves thousands of families throughout southeastern Michigan, regardless of their ability to pay, Morris said. For more information, visit. www.oakwood.org/CEF.
