Community to Come Together to Build New Playground

Contact: Amy Ferguson
Marketing Coordinator, Brookwood Baptist Health
205.427.1585
[email protected]  

From the Ground Up: Community to Come Together to Build New Playground

Alabaster, Ala. – October 23, 2017 – Shelby Baptist Medical Center has helped launch more than $42,000 in fundraising for the YMCA of Chilton County for a first-time playground at the facility. The funding came together through a comprehensive community effort and includes donations from Shelby Baptist Medical Center and the Baptist Health Foundation for $5,000 each; $7,500 from Jimmy Parnell, president of the Chilton County Farmers Federation and a member of the ALFA Foundation; the Lions Club of Chilton County donated $3,500 for fencing around the playground area; additional funding came from the YMCA of Chilton County, including $3,000 from their pageant fundraiser, and $3,000 from their gymnastics fundraiser. Dr. Pepper Snapple Group (DPS) and national non-profit KaBOOM! awarded YMCA of Chilton County the final $15,000 through the Let’s Play Community Construction Grant that will be used to build the playground. The grant is part of Let’s Play, an initiative by DPS to provide kids and families with the tools, places and inspiration to make active play a daily priority. As a result of Let’s Play grants and projects, more than 6.5 million kids will benefit from new or improved playgrounds around the nation by the end of 2020.

“This exciting new partnership with Shelby Baptist Medical Center, KaBOOM! and our incredible community partners, is helping to provide the children of Chilton County with a great space to enhance fitness and health through recreational play,” said Lori Patterson, Executive Director of the Chilton County YMCA. “I know the residents of Chilton County are thrilled to have an additional safe place for their kids to play and thrive. Furthermore, I am elated to know our YMCA is being granted an additional opportunity to serve children in this capacity.”

“We’re committed to serving the children and families of Chilton County, and this partnership is about working together with the community to create something lasting and impactful for future generations,” says Mike Rickman, CEO of Shelby Baptist Medical Center. “Despite the many benefits of play for children and our communities, we’re seeing a decline across the country, particularly in neighborhoods that need it most. We’re thrilled to give back to the community that gives so much to us.”

The community is coming together to build the new playground on two build days – Wednesday, November 1 and Thursday, November 2 – from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Community members in attendance will include:

•          YMCA members

•          Kiwanis Club members

•          Lions Club members

•          Chilton County Superintendent of Education, Tommy Glasscock

•          Chilton County Sheriff John Shearon

•          Pastors and members from First United Methodist Church

•          Pastor and members from Grace Fellowship Church

•          Youth Pastor from West End Baptist Church

•          Alabama Power Company employees

•          CAEC employees

•          Shelby Baptist Medical Center employees

Through the playground, the children of the Chilton County community (particularly those enrolled with the YMCA) will soon enjoy brand-new playground equipment guaranteed to support physical, emotional, social and intellectual development. The playground will offer safe play structures for children of all ages.

###

YMCA of the USA
YMCA of the USA is the national resource office for the Y, one of the nation’s leading nonprofits strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Across the U.S., 849 Ys engage 21 million men, women and children – regardless of age, income or background – to nurture the potential of children and teens, improve the nation’s health and well-being, and provide opportunities to give back and support neighbors. Anchored in more than 10,000 communities, the Y has the long-standing relationships and physical presence not just to promise, but to deliver, lasting personal and social change. YMCAs are nonprofit charitable organizations. Any reference to products or services does not constitute endorsement, recommendation or favoring by YMCAs. We acknowledge and appreciate the support of IBM by making the KidSmart Program and education software available to YMCAs.

Shelby Baptist Medical Center
Shelby Baptist Medical Center is a 252-bed acute care facility in Alabaster, Alabama, one of the fastest growing suburbs in metro Birmingham. Originally opened in 1959, Shelby is the only hospital in Shelby County, and is home to one of the busiest emergency rooms in the state of Alabama. The hospital employs over 1,000 employees and 191 affiliated physicians. They offer a comprehensive range of clinical services, including cardiology, obstetrics/gynecology, general surgery, robotic surgery, a bariatrics program, oncology services, expansive diagnostic imaging, emergency services, orthopedics, neurology, urology and gastroenterology, along with specialized medical and surgical care. Adult and senior psychiatric services are offered on campus as well as Home Health services. Shelby Baptist Medical Center is part of the Brookwood Baptist Health network.