by Ingrid Nova | Mar 18, 2014 | Events, New Members
By East Lansing Rotarian Lori Bosch
I am very honored to be the Managing Director of Ele’s Place in Lansing. Recently I was able to share my passion for Ele’s Place with my fellow Rotarians as East Lansing Rotary visted Ele’s Place. Ele’s Place is especially important to me, because when I was a teenager, my older brother died and I understand firsthand the pain and isolation that grieving children and teens experience. I encourage anyone who would like to learn more about Ele’s Place to take a tour. Tour dates are listed at www.elesplace.org, or you can call 517-482-1315.
For those of you who don’t know about our mission,Ele’s Place is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating awareness of and support for grieving children and their families. Our primary goal is to provide a safe and supportive atmosphere where children can share their feelings and memories with their peers, and begin to heal following the death of a parent, sibling, other close family member or important friend.
Ele’s Place recognizes that children’s grief is unique and that allowing children to share their feelings promotes healing. Grieving children often feel isolated by a death; at Ele’s Place, they can connect with their peers who have suffered similar loss, and together begin to heal. Through our peer support group program, these children are given the opportunity to grieve in a healthy manner and begin their healing process.
Most children today will experience the death of a parent, sibling, grandparent, other family member or close friend before they complete high school. When a child experiences the death of someone special, the impact is emotionally devastating and has a profound effect on his or her life. Ele’s Place provides the support children and teens need to find hope and healing, so they can have bright futures.
by Ingrid Nova | Mar 6, 2014 | Events, Foundation and Fund Raising, Notable News for Members
On February 26th Sponsors, Community Members and Rotarians gathered at the Hannah Community Center for a Park Project Briefing for Playground in the Park Re-Imagined. East Lansing Mayor, Nathan Triplett, Parks and Recreation Director Tim McCaffery, Project Chairperson John Saltzgaber, and Honorary Chairperson were on hand to give the attendees an update and forecast for the community build date in June of 2014.
Honorary Chairperson, Suzy Merchant delighted the crowd with her personal feelings about Patriarche Park, the project, and the power of play.
Project Chairperson, John Saltzgaber outlined the remaining opportunities for sponsors, community support through the purchase of brick pavers and participation in the Community Charity Challenge called the Big Bangquet.
You may also view the video on YouTube.
by Ingrid Nova | Feb 10, 2014 | Foundation and Fund Raising, Playground in the Park
The East Lansing Rotary Foundation makes it possible for our organization to compete in the Big Bang-Quet Community Charity Challenge. This is a special opportunity to raise awareness and funds for our Playground in the Park Re-Imagined project. The timing is wonderful since the the voting structure of the competition makes the cost of supporting our charity within reach of the whole community and comes at a time when the community will be encouraged to participate as we prepare for the final push to completion. The park is expected to be completed in June of 2014.
Share with your Family, Friends and Neighbors
To participate in the Big Bang-Quet Community Charity Challenge Rotarians, friends and supporters are encouraged to visit the voting website: www.universityclubofmsu.org/theclubwithaheart to cast their votes (each vote costs $5) from February 1 – March 24. Votes cast for Playground in the Park Re-Imagined will yield 85% of the fund for the cause. Additionally, should the park project be among the top vote getters there are added benefits, the top prize is a $10,000 banquet at the University Club to be used for further fund-raising.
Sponsors Determined to Succeed
The Playground in the Park is a collaboration between the East Lansing Rotary Club, the City of East Lansing and many sponsors and supporters, including the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Trust Fund ( a major grantor). Planning and fund-raising has spanned nearly four years as the sponsoring organizations looked for solutions to replacing the aging wooden play structure with a safer, eco-friendly, long-lasting, and accessible play space.
by Ingrid Nova | Jan 16, 2014 | Community Service Ongoing, Playground in the Park
Decades of happy children have explored every inch of the wooden play structure at Patriarche Park. Today we bid it a fond farewell as we make way for a safer, more accessible play structure that will delight children and families for decades to come. We recognize the community members and leaders from East Lansing Rotary that worked so hard to make Playground in the Park a reality.
Demolition begins at Patriarche Park on a frigid day in January as the first step in site preparation which will lead to a community build event in June of 2014.
by Ingrid Nova | Jan 9, 2014 | Community Service Ongoing, Foundation and Fund Raising, Playground in the Park
Buy A Brick Paver
As work begins on the dismantling of the old play structure at Patriarche Park in East Lansing it is a good time to remind our friends and family that a wonderful way to support the new play structure is to purchase a brick paver or two. Create a lasting memory of your support for this community asset. Here is the script for a public service announcement from Honorary Chair, Suzy Merchant:
“I’d like to invite you to join with me in creating a new, more accessible and safer playground at East Lansing’s Patriarche Park.
The new playground has exciting new play spaces. You can help make this new play facility available to children throughout our region by buying a brick paver, today.
Each brick paver can be customized with the names of family members, your business, or others to create a lasting testimonial of your support for this state-of-the-art play facility.”
Create a lasting memory and help build a legacy for our children . . .
