Accessible playground funding raised By Local 2101

Members of Local 2101 closed out 2017 by raising $1,030 to help build an accessible playground for a local school. The fundraising campaign was organized by Health Care Administration (HCA) staff at the Department of Human Services (DHS). HCA chose Bridge View School in St. Paul for the group’s 2017 fundraising efforts.

On the right, the in-progress playground is pictured.

Bridge View School educates students with severe and profound developmental disabilities ages five through 18. Members of Local 2101 recently took a guided tour of the adaptive school with Principal Lisa Carrigan.

“Principal Carrigan was very happy to receive our donation and was eager to show us around so we could see some of the improvements they have already made,” Local 2101 President Liz Pearson said. “The biggest addition was the new interactive musical items that have been added to the playground.”

Previously HCA staff hosted a coat drive and a school supply drive, but decided to do something bigger this time; something that would echo the mission of services provided by DHS.

“I consider the support of places like Bridgeview as a continuation of the mission of the Department of Human Services, specifically to focus on the needs of people,” Pearson said. “The Health Care division has made great strides to partner with Bridgeview by letting them direct the nature of our fundraising.”

The school has completed phase 1 of what they’re calling the Play for All Initiative. Bridge View School and Focus Beyond Transition Services will be the site for a St. Paul Miracle League Field, which allows people of all abilities to play baseball on a fully accessible playing service. To help bring more play opportunities to students and the community go here to donate: https://givemn.org/organization/sppsbridgeview.

In the photo on the right, from left to right are: Liz Pearson, Local 2101 president; Ladonna Morrison, Electronic Health Records Incentive Program/EEC; Lisa Carrigan, Principal at Bridge View School; Linda Davis-Johnson, HCA Chief Administrative Officer/EEC; and Kristen Joseph, HCA Admin Assistant/EEC. Not pictured is Maria Bitanga, HCA Agency Policy Specialist, who requested the donation from Local 2101.