BY DONNA KLEIN, nyarm

We did it!!! That is NYARM members and friends did it. It took seven long years of fund-raising…planning…fund-raising…negotiating…fund-raising…construction. But now the children of the Brooklyn Blue Feather school have a beautiful, colorful, safe, fabulous play area.

On Tuesday, May 16, 2000 NYARM officially opened the playground and held a dedication ceremony. The playground was dedicated to Ellen Reed, deceased wife of Wayne Reed, a veteran NYARM associate member, NYARM Board member and co-chairman of the golf outing, dinner dance and tradeshow committees. Ellen was an intelligent and talented woman. Always at NYARM social events, Ellen was a strong supporter of our annual Christmas visits to disabled and handicapped children.

Also in attendance at the ceremony were the dedicated staff and volunteer parents of the Blue Feather school, AHRC personnel involved in the project, state and city political representatives and members of Wayne and Ellen's family.

A LITTLE HISTORY

This playground didn't appear without the vision, help and perseverance of a great number of people. First, Niki Eisenstein who hundreds of years ago said we need to give back to the community. And, what better place to start, than with the children? Next came Joan Saberito, who took that vision to the max.

When we first arrived at Blue Feather eight years ago, Sister Pat Lynch was principal. There was an atmosphere in the school that inspired us to do more than just bring the best Santa Claus in the whole world Nelson Davis, toys and goodies once a year. We were driven to transform the bare, colorless backyard into a playground suitable for the special needs of these special children.

There were years of 50/50 raffles at monthly meetings, dinner dances and every NYARM event that our generous membership congregated. There were pleas and solicitations. Our hands were out all the time, for the children.

Equipment wasn't all that we wanted. The blank, brick wall abutting the play area was just screaming for a bright, colorful mural. And to the rescue…the volunteers at New York Cares who designed and painted the perfect backdrop with supplies donated by generous NYARM member Ben Jacobson, Jacobson Enterprises.

THANKS

There are so many people to thank when a project as large and time consuming as this one is undertaken.

Thank you Sister Pat for your inspiration; thank you Joanne Goldkrand for your generosity and help these past two years you've been principal. Thanks to AHRC who allowed us to complete the dream and give these children a safe haven to play in.

Thank you to every contributor, those who contributed money and those who contributed time. Thank you to Santa's helpers who rekindled the spirit of the dream every Christmas. Thank you Richard Howard for donating the beautiful plaque. Thank you to every NYARM member and friend who ever bought a 50/50 raffle and especially to those who won and donated the money back!

BIGGER AND BETTER??

Now that the project is finished we have no intention of abandoning our Christmas tradition. New students and staff arrive in September at Brooklyn Blue Feather when the school becomes a "regular" elementary school with grades kindergarten through sixth. We will continue to send Santa and his helpers to bring Christmas cheer and joy to these physically and mentally challenged children.

Next Christmas (2001) we are planning a HUGE party and we need your help. A long time NYARM member, Al Simon, Nortronics, has brought us a project that we cannot turn down. Feed 1000 children at Christmas!!! Al has been associated with a Queens group that has been doing this for 30 years and we aim to do the same in Manhattan. These children will not only be physically and mentally challenged but some will be homeless and orphaned as well.

WE NEED YOUR HELP! Christmas, 2001 is not so far away when you take on a project as significant as this. TOYS R US has committed their assistance. NYARM members and friends have always risen to the occasion and we expect no less this time. If you have any connections in the food, entertainment, toy/novelty, etc. industries call the NYARM office TODAY (212-505-8770).

A flyer will be faxed to the membership in the near future asking for your assistance. Do not hesitate to complete the form and return it to NYARM. Whatever help you can lend will be greatly appreciated.

ELLEN REED MEMORIAL PLAYGROUND

CONTRIBUTORS AND BENEFACTORS

AIA Environmental Corp - Emil Braun

Bargold - The Goldman Family

Bay Ridge Fuel Corp - Bill Jebaily

Ben Jacobson Painting - Ben Jacobson

Cointech Industries - Ted Yates

John Hendrick

JAD Corporation of America - Joe Dee

Kew Forest Maintenance Supply - Jerry Blumberg

Kumar Shingwani

Arthur Leudesdorf

Metro Plumbing & Heating - Stuart Liben

Northeast Plumbing Specialties - Wayne Reed

Polar Distributors - Richard Howard

Rosenwach Tank Co - Wally and Andy Rosenwach

Robyn Sanderson

Scientific Compactor/Boiler - Irwin Sandler

Jonathan Silberstein

Wasserman-Treifler Plumbing & Heating - Caroline Triefler

Michael Wegielski

To our members and friends who took time from their busy lives and brought some Christmas cheer to the mentally and physically challenged children of New York City.

Thanks to Santa and his Helpers

Vince Callagy

Rochelle Captan

Nelson Davis The One, True Santa Claus!

Michael Eisenstein

Niki Eisenstein The Lady That Set us on our Path

Ben Jacobson

Len Jones

Otis Jones

Donna Klein

Lenny Licata

Tom Maniusko

Deborah Morrell

Al Pennisi

Wayne Reed

Joan Saberito The Lady That Made the Dream A Reality

Barbara Sullivan

Michael Wegielski

Allen Ngai - NYARM's video chronicler