Thornton Creek Awarded $1,000 for New Playground

Panasonic has awarded a $1,000 grant to Thornton Creek Elementary School for the replacement of its weather-worn playground structure, according to a press release.

The grant was sponsored by Panasonic employee Jodi Paxton, whose nieces and nephew attend Thornton Creek.  Paxton, a customer care manager at Panasonic Automotive Systems in Farmington Hills, will also represent Panasonic as a construction volunteer on the building day at the playground, which is scheduled for May 18.

Paxton said that her interest in supporting the playground project came from her passion for children’s health and wellness.

“As a new mother myself, safety and a healthy lifestyle for children has become a high priority for me. I hear about the great teachers and activities that Thornton Creek has from my nieces and nephew, who are students there," she said. "I love the idea of extending that classroom out to the playground for all children and provide them with a stimulating and fun place to play together. Just a little bit of time and effort raising money and building this playground is going to give so many children so much happiness and joy playing on the equipment for years. I can’t wait for my son to be able to play on it with his cousins!”

The playground is also being sponsored with grants and donations from Community Financial Credit Union, Guido's Pizza of Novi, The Sports Club of Novi, Northville Early Bird Kiwanis, Tom Holzer Ford, BASF Corporation, Novi Family Dental, Michael Brocavich of Edward Jones Investments, and Landscape Structures. 

”This is a real community effort," said Claudia Ordonez, co-chair of the school’s playground committee. "The success of this project depends on the support of our friends, extended family, local businesses and civic organizations.  We are so grateful because this playground will benefit not only the students at Thornton Creek, but everyone in the community who plays here after school is out.”

For more information on the Thornton Creek playground project, e-mail acauseforplay@gmail.com or like “A Cause For Play” on Facebook.

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