It has been exactly one year since we had the big public hearing with the city and Houston Parks Board. One of the facilities many people said they would really love to have is a water sprayground at the park so that they could enjoy the park in the summer with their kids. HEB chose to donate a sprayground to Jaycee Park! This was a $250,000 donation to our park and it will be ready for Spring 2011!
The second big announcement is that we just received a $25,000 donation from the Mendenhall Foundation to renovate the basketball court! This will be over two years (June 2010, June 2011), so the construction would begin after receipt of the second payment.
The Party for a Playground held May 8th was a really great time and raised approximately $10,500! Thanks to all who came out to the festival and to Hartman & Associates’ Carolyn Bryant and Marshall Hartman for underwriting this event. Thanks to Queen Burger for donating the hotdogs, condiments and chilling our cases of water overnight, the Porch Swing Pub for donating ice and a cooler to keep it frozen, and Tecate Mexican Restaurant on Ella for donating the queso. Thank you to Lazybrook Baptist Church for letting us borrow the tables and chairs and for setting them up and taking them away. Thanks to Bill Morfey and Jubilee & Bayou Banjo Bands for the great music and their time. Thanks to Payless Insulation, United Refrigeration, Dewalch and Goodman for agreeing to let us use their parking lots. Also, thanks to all the ExxonMobil employees and retirees that came out to set up and run the silent auction. An especially big thanks goes to all of the people that volunteered to deliver fliers before the event and all that worked at the event.
We have more good corporate neighbors to recognize! Payless Insulation on Seamist just made a $1500 donation to sponsor a bench. Their company is located directly across the street from the park and does home and business insulation. Francesca’s Collection, which has boutiques in 28 states and has their headquarters on 12th St near Ella just made a $5000 donation to sponsor a table. Their company specializes in women’s clothing, jewelry and handbags. National Bronze & Metal, located on the corner of 12th Street and Ella, has also made a $1500 donation to sponsor a bench. They are a manufacturer and master distributor of brass, bronze and copper alloys. Thanks to these businesses for giving back to the community in which they do business.
We will continue looking for sponsorship of the walking/jogging trail ($200,000), tennis court renovation ($100,000), playgrounds ($125,000 for the 2-5 year old’s playground, $100,000 for the 5-12 year old’s playground). If you know of a company, individual or foundation that is interested in a recognition opportunity through sponsorship of one of these facilities, please let us know. It is through our community’s network that we can continue to make big things happen at the park.
Ileana Desalos
Friends of Jaycee Park
713-922-6742
Leave a Reply