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Rotary club holds lotto to raise funds for more accessible school playgrounds in Chilliwack

Rotary Club of Chilliwack Fraser’s goal is to buy inclusive equipment for 5 schools in 5 years
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This inclusive playground is one of five that the Rotary Club of Chilliwack Fraser is helping fund. (Submitted)

A Rotary Club in Chilliwack has the goal of building five inclusive playgrounds in five years and they’re raising money through a lottery to do just that.

The Rotary Club of Chilliwack Fraser created the “Children’s Right to Play” initiative and in 2019, members committed to making five Chilliwack school playgrounds more accessible.

“We want to make play spaces open for exploring, journeying, hiding and seeking and open-ended adventures,” said committee chair Robert Beischer. “It is our club’s vision to help meet some needs that were being missed.”

The club raises the funds every year through their Travel Lotto ticket sales, with half going to the playground projects and half to prizes.

Rotary Club of Chilliwack Fraser partnered with Chilliwack School District 33 to make sure the five new playground builds would feature inclusive playground equipment.

The first two schools completed were Promontory and Robertson elementary with East Chilliwack’s new playground being completed very soon. The other two schools have not yet been identified.

“We offer funding up to $60,000 for each playground; those funds are specifically for inclusive equipment. The school PAC and administration are free to choose what accessible equipment best suits the needs of the school’s student body. To date, the schools have chosen a wide range of equipment to meet both physical and sensory needs,” Beischer said.

A total of 1,000 Travel Lotto tickets are sold each year bringing in $120,000, half of which goes towards playground equipment.

“The generous donation towards our school playground means more children will have more access to inclusive play with their peers. We plan to use this funding to add inclusive play structures that allow students of all abilities to participate in play,” said Ken Chater, principal of East Chilliwack elementary. “We could not do this without the generous support of Rotary and those who support Rotary initiatives.”

Ticket sales give folks a chance to win one trip a month ($4,500 value) for 12 months, as well as one of four cash prizes of $120. Each ticket purchased is eligible for every prize draw.

Tickets are $120 and available from any Rotary Club of Chilliwack Fraser Club member, in person at Gerry Enns Contracting or Simpson Auto, or email rotarytravelprizes@gmail.com. Tickets will be available until Jan. 10, 2022.

For more information about the Travel Lotto or the Rotary Club of Chilliwack Fraser, visit facebook.com/RotaryClubOfChilliwackFraser.

RELATED: Chilliwack Rotarians offer something special for women in transition houses


 

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Jenna Hauck

About the Author: Jenna Hauck

I started my career at The Chilliwack Progress in 2000 as a photojournalist.
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