Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation Funds New Playground for ČĖĘŽĀŅĀ×ās Childrenās ČĖĘŽĀŅĀ×
Wed, 01/20/2021 - 01:48pm | By: Courtney Tesh
The Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation has awarded a grant of $323,540
to The Childrenās ČĖĘŽĀŅĀ× for Communication and Development at The University of Southern
Miss through the ČĖĘŽĀŅĀ× Foundation. The funds will be used to build a new playground
on ČĖĘŽĀŅĀ×ās Gulf Park campus.
Once finished, the playground will serve as a much-needed outdoor therapy space for the children with complex disabilities who receive cost-free services from The Childrenās ČĖĘŽĀŅĀ×, and as an inclusive play space for children in the Gulf Coast region both with and without developmental disabilities.
Currently, the ČĖĘŽĀŅĀ×ās Gulf Park location provides a wide range of therapies, including Listening and Spoken Language Therapy, Speech Language Pathology, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Audiology, and Behavioral Therapy, for 40 children in the southern six counties of the state, all at no cost to their families. Through this grant, the ČĖĘŽĀŅĀ× will be able to expand the scope of these therapies through fully accessible outdoor play, using carefully chosen equipment and therapy tools that encourage motor and speech development, as well as social interaction with peers.
āThe impact this new therapy playground will have on our families, as well as on families in the region, is hard to quantify,ā said Sarah Myers, Director of The Childrenās ČĖĘŽĀŅĀ×. āFor our little ones, this is much more than a playground. We know, and research has shown, that play is therapy. This wheelchair and walker-accessible space has been designed with that in mind.
Added Myers: āOne of our biggest goals at the ČĖĘŽĀŅĀ× is to tailor our therapy plan for each child, addressing all areas of their development, and preparing them for that day they transition to their local school district. Without a doubt, the existence of this new playground will better allow us to do just that. It wouldnāt be possible without the generosity of the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation. We are so grateful for their partnership.ā
ČĖĘŽĀŅĀ× students and families are understandably excited about the new space. āMy son,
Justus, would love the opportunity to play on the new playground, as learning through
play is his favorite,ā said Childrenās ČĖĘŽĀŅĀ× parent, Amy DeFazio. āHe has recently
been exposed to monkey bars at a local playground and looks forward to figuring out
how to adapt and overcome using his ālucky fin.ā āI know, as a mom, a playground is
a safe place for him to wrestle through challenges while still having fun.ā
The Childrenās ČĖĘŽĀŅĀ× also plans to host play opportunities for children and families within the community, helping promote inclusion, and expanding the impact of this new space to include other families in the Gulf Coast region.
āThe Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation is proud to partner with The ČĖĘŽĀŅĀ× Foundation to improve the overall health of students at The Childrenās ČĖĘŽĀŅĀ× through fun and interactive therapeutic play, said Sheila B. Grogan, Foundation President. āAchieving healthy milestones throughout life is the Foundationās goal for every child.ā