Rotary youth partner with Shane's Inspiration

By Ryan Hyland
Rotary International News -- 5 September 2008
Photography by Monika Lozinska-Lee

Rotaractor Sergei Belokonnyi of the Rotaract Club of West Los Angeles, California, USA, plays with Parker Silcock, 11, from Huntington Beach, California.

The smiles were plentiful as members of Rotary youth programs helped children with disabilities slide down slides, crawl through tubes, or ride on swings at Griffith Park in Los Angeles.

Rotaractors , Interactors , and RYLA participants attending the 2008 RI Convention in June spent a morning at the 2-acre playground playing with children and helping them with arts and crafts.

Shane's Inspiration is a nonprofit started in 1997 to honor Shane Alexander, who was born paralyzed and lived only two weeks. The organization aims to build universally accessible playgrounds throughout Southern California, USA, for children with or without disabilities. The public playgrounds are designed to accommodate children with leg braces and crutches or who are in wheelchairs.

The Griffith Park location, the first playground built by Shane's Inspiration, features special equipment in a modern, safe, and creative environment.

Because of the RI convention, the joint service project brought together Rotary youth program members from around the world. Collaborating with Shane's Inspiration was a natural fit because of its message of acceptance and tolerance for children with disabilities.

"This service project has been a unique and special experience," said former Rotaractor Megan Cotugno, now a member of the Rotary Club of Manhattan Beach, California. "Shane's Inspiration built a beautiful playground. They are a great organization to partner with."

6 Comments:

At 9:58AM on 17 October 2008, Pam Philips wrote: Our community in Medford, Oregon is looking to do a smaller scale project like this. The Hoover PTO has developed a plan to build the first Boundless Playground in Oregon. Wouldn't this be an incredible opportunity for all local rotarians to stand out as supporters of our entire community's youth.

At 9:10AM on 26 September 2008, Gail Beams wrote: This is a wonderful idea and it has to be so rewarding to see the childrens faces when they get to go to the awesome place built specially for them.

At 10:02AM on 15 September 2008, Mark Mariscal wrote: As a rotarian that was there, it was great to see the dozens of rotaracts that came to volunteer. I have worked with Shane's in the past and am very happy to see their organization grow from local, to national and now they are going international. What a great way for Rotarians to get involved around the world.

At 10:04AM on 15 September 2008, vice dist. interact rep. george michael tuyay wrote: interactors! go make dreams real!

At 8:50AM on 11 September 2008, Jose A. Ramos wrote: Shane's Inspiraton's project of building playgrounds for children with disabilities is GREAT! Our club, RC Paranaque, Dist. 3830 has long-standing projects (Free surgeries for Cleft Lip and Palate, Clubfeet, & Hydrocephalus patients) that also help children with disabilities. The article stated that Shane's Inspiration builds the special playgrounds in California. Is it possible to build one in the Philippines? Thank you and congratulations to Shane's Inspiration for such a GREAT project.

At 10:03AM on 9 September 2008, Rtr. Rama Maharjan wrote: This may the example to show all over the world that we can make a big difference even with our little effort. For synergy we just need to join hand with hand.

Add a comment

Your name * Your email * (non-public) Your comment * * indicates a required field

2009 Birmingham
2009 RI Convention in Birmingham

End Polio Now
Help Rotary meet the challenge

Submit photos now
Annual photo contest deadline 28 February