We did it!
It’s hard for me to express just how important those three small words really are. They represent months of hard work, due diligence, generosity, relationship building, conversation, and prayer. Lots of prayer. So many things had to come together at just the right time and in just the right way.
At the start of summer, I didn’t know how or when this moment would come. I believed it would. But when you’re trying to build a playground, there are a lot of details that need to be addressed. And the biggest detail of all is figuring out how to pay for it.
Playgrounds are expensive — in this case, close to half a million dollars. But through the generosity of individual donors and corporate partners, combined with grants from city and state agencies and an abundance of goodwill, we were able to close the funding gap and set a date for construction.
You’ve been a part of this story from the very beginning. So when I say we did it, I really mean WE DID IT!
I came to you in April with an audacious plan to build a playground for Neighborhood House. Your support, which came in the form of donations, encouragement, prayer, and advice, put wind in our sails. It gave us the courage to move forward, knowing you were behind us.
As you know, this project is about more than just a playground. It’s about our kids. We’re on the verge of transforming a vacant lot near our community center into a place where they can learn, grow, and have fun. They deserve this. It’s an investment in them.
The other exciting thing a new playground affords us is the opportunity to open a preschool for 3-5 year olds. Delaware’s Office of Childcare and Licensing has made it very clear: no playground, no preschool. Now we can begin serving this important age group, which is something we’ve been trying to do for years.
When I wrote to you last spring, I knew that constructing an outdoor playspace was not the kind of project we could accomplish alone. And that has certainly been the case.
As we bring construction of the playground to completion, pay for its first year of upkeep, and open a brand new preschool, your financial support is more important than ever.
In the months ahead, we need to raise $100,000 in unrestricted gifts to cover operational expenses related to our growth. Every new program places a demand on our resources. As the executive director of this amazing organization, I need to be sure we are on solid financial footing, with the capacity to cover every expense.
For ninety-five years Neighborhood House has been serving the community. Each step we’ve taken to expand our programs and services has been made possible by our donors — by those who care about our work and give to make it happen.
My sense is there's another We did it! story waiting to be written at Neighborhood House. A new playground and preschool are the opening acts, but there’s still so much left to do.
I hope you’ll make a gift today, knowing your support makes all of this possible.
With immense gratitude for you,
Ms. Alison Windle
Executive Director
P.S. Construction of the new playground is scheduled for November 2-4, and you can help us build it!