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2nd-grader gives up birthday gifts for new playground
By ELISE McKEOWN SKOLNICK
BOARDMAN
A Market Street Elementary School second-grader gave up her birthday gifts to help give fellow students a new playground.
The Boardman school board accepted the donation of $110 for the Market Street Elementary PTA playground fund at its Monday meeting.
The donation came from a “very selfless young lady,” said schools Superintendent Frank Lazzeri.
Emily Szabo asked for donations to the fund in lieu of birthday gifts.
The board presented Emily with a certificate of recognition at the meeting.
The board appreciates “that wonderful act of kindness,” Lazzeri said.
The PTA has been raising funds for new equipment since the current playground was vandalized. It is now unsafe for the children to use.
A lot of her friends donated, Emily said.
A plan for the playground is on display at the school. Emily is looking forward to playing on the glider when the playground is complete.
“I think it’s wonderful,” said Emily’s mother, Laura Szabo, about her daughter’s donation.
Laura Szabo suggested the idea, but left the decision to forgo gifts for herself up to Emily.
“I gave her the choice,” Laura said. “And she said, ‘Yeah, Mom, that sounds like a good idea.’”
The total cost for the project is $65,000, said Heather Oyler, PTA president. They’ve raised around $8,000 to date. Phase 1 of the three-phase project will cost about $20,000.
“She’s just adorable,” Oyler said about Emily. “How sweet for somebody to care that much — just selfless.”