Yo. Playground Association board donates funds for children’s activities

YOUNGSTOWN — The Youngstown Playground Association board has donated $47,014 to the Youngstown/Mahoning Valley United Way, with the stipulation that the dollars be used for recreational and educational activities for children in the Youngstown area.

The Youngstown Playground Association was founded in Youngstown on April 27, 1917, with the purpose of “providing facilities for recreation and amusement for children in the Youngstown, Ohio area.” Over the years, funds raised by the association have been distributed through annual grants to organizations such as Boys Scouts, Boys and Girls Club of Youngstown, Associated Neighborhood Centers, Buckeye Elks, Send a Kid to Camp, Potential Development and other community agencies.

The Youngstown Playground Association board decided recently to liquidate the assets of the organization and turn the funds over to United Way for distribution.

“Through United Way, we are confident that the funds will be distributed as our founders originally intended,” said Al Matasy, Youngstown Playground Association board president.

The funds will be distributed to qualified local 501(c) 3 organizations through the Youngstown/Mahoning Valley United Way Review Committee.

In addition to Matasy, the other Youngstown Playground Association board members are Ed Hulme, secretary/treasurer; Atty. Mark Belinky, Joseph McRae, John P. Moyer and Atty. James Pazol.