'WORLDWIDE DAY OF PLAY' City to celebrate grant for multigenerational center

The event will allow adults to become comfortable with the center.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
GIRARD -- The city will celebrate receiving a nearly $1 million grant over the next five years for pupil programs with a variety of child- and parent-friendly activities Oct. 2 at the Girard Multi-Generational Center.
"Hopefully, we'll have a lot of families come through [that day]," Laura Carey-D'Rummo, center administrative director, said Tuesday.
The center, board of education and Girard 21st Century Community Learning Center will host the "Let's Just Play -- Worldwide Day of Play" from 2 to 4 p.m. that day.
Carey-D'Rummo said the day launches the use of an Ohio Department of Education grant the school district received.
The grant is for $227,956 for each of the first three years beginning this year, $170,967 in the fourth year and $113,978 the fifth year for a total $968,813 grant.
Most of the pupil activities will be at the multigenerational center.
Purpose of event
Carey-D'Rummo explained the event has two purposes. It will provide children and adults with the opportunity to come together and engage in active, healthy and fun play time.
It also will give the community a chance to meet the staff, see the facilities and learn about new after-school programs in the community. The programs are known as the Girard 21st Century Community Learning Center.
The community center is a collaborative between the school district, multigenerational center, Solace Center, Girard Free Library, Girard Tae Kwon Do, Trumbull County Educational Services Center and Youngstown State University.
Activities during the kickoff include punt, pass and kick competition, basketball, Girard High School robotics, martial arts, boccie, pool, face painting, sack races, "Nick-at-Nite" trivia, crafts, chess, checkers, door prizes and snacks.
Children under 9 must be accompanied by an adult.
Carey-D'Rummo said the kickoff will allow parents to feel comfortable with where their children are going after school.
Other programs will be instituted such as after-school academic instruction, a literacy program, alcohol-drug prevention information, and segments on self-esteem and domestic violence.
There also will be a satellite library and youth court.
The school board will hire a program director, activities coordinator and teachers for the center at its meeting tonight, Carey-D'Rummo said.