Donations fund new playground

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

A playground for elementary schoolchildren is being built at Youngstown Community School, 44 Essex St., thanks to nearly $30,000 in donations.

The Youngstown Foundation has contributed $20,000 toward the project and the Walter E. and Caroline H. Watson Foundation is putting up $5,000 more.

R.T. Vernal Paving & Excavating has contributed $3,200, bringing the total to $28,200.

“We’ll need a little bit more to complete it,” said Sister Jerome Corcoran, a member of the board of directors of Developing Potential Inc., the entity that operates the school and the nearby Millcreek Children’s Center preschool program.

The equipment is being installed now, she said.

Millcreek has received a couple of other programming grants as well, Sister Jerome said.

The Raymond J. Wean Foundation has given the center $10,900 to help fund a three-year strategic planning process. The center has hired Janus Small & Associates of Cleveland, to assist in the project.

A $5,000 gift has been received from Marilyn Rhiel to the Sponsor a Child Program that provides preschool education for children of low-income parents.