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July 13, 2005
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Media Contact: |
Mike Andrei
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Daemen College Center for Sustainable Communities & Civic Engagement Assists Fruit Belt United, Inc. in Winning Playground Grant
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Children in the Fruit Belt neighborhood have a new playground as a result of a community-wide collaborative effort
of sponsors, supporters, and volunteers. The Daemen College Center for Sustainable Communities and Civic Engagement,
together with the UB Economic Development Clinic, Teen Challenge and the Locust Street Art School, received a
$35,000 grant from Home Depot for Fruit Belt United, Inc. These funds, in addition to support from M & T Bank,
Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, The Christopher Breen Foundation, Hodgson Russ Attorneys LLP, and students and
teachers at PS #37 Future's Academy, have been used to match a grant by KaBOOM! ,
a national non-profit organization
that provides resources and assists volunteers in building playgrounds in low-income neighborhoods. Building Day
for the playground was Friday, July 8, 2005, at 161 Mulberry Street in Buffalo.
Fruit Belt United Inc. began in 1996 as the Fruit Belt Coalition, with the sole purpose of doing things in the community to help promote good relations between the youth and adults. To achieve their goals of improving life in the Fruit Belt, the organization has done a wide range of events over the years -- picnics, Kid's Days, dances, dinners, and raffles. Event attendance has grown from 75 people, at their first summer picnic at Como Lake, to more than 400 at last year's event. Recently, UB's Community Economic Development clinic helped the group to get a 501.C3 status with the IRS. "Youth is the main focus of Fruit Belt United, with the goal of providing positive outlets and opportunities for activities," said Milton. "Members who grew up in the Fruit Belt recall a Neighborhood House with a basketball court and a range of after school programs. Currently, in a 5 block radius there is only one tot lot with a rusted swing and slide. We've got to do better. And we will." The Daemen College CSCCE worked with members of Fruit Belt United, Inc. to assist in leveraging funding for the playground. For more information about the project, contact Sharon Benz , Special Projects Coordinator for the Center for Sustainable Communities & Civic Engagement . |