October Update from Jessica

Greetings!
Great News! Winter Park will become a reality! The Keweenaw Family Resource Center has signed a lease. Winter Park will be located in Red Ridge Plaza next to Hairsmiths on Sharon Avenue in Houghton. The Task Force is now very busy planning and designing this playground. Check out the blog at http://houghtonwinterpark.blogspot.com/ for almost daily updates!
Monica Aho, the Chair of the Design committee continues to meet weekly at the site planning and designing everything from play structures to artwork for the walls. In addition to the engineers, interior designers, parents and therapists that she has recruited, Monica has enlisted the help of Professor Rick Loduha and about 20 of his students from Finlandia’s School of Design. It is a very exciting and inspiring experience to watch these talents at work. If you are interested in joining the design committee, please contact committee chair Monica Aho at monicaaho@gmail.com. All are welcome!
Winter Park will have a new name when it opens! It will be called The Treehouse. Dave Olsson of The Upper Peninsula Marketing Department has generously donated his time and talents to lead the branding and marketing plans for Winter Park. Thank you, Dave!
We have some exciting events coming up. Angela Campioni is chairing the “Winter Warm-Up” family fun event, to be held OCTOBER 24th at HOUGHTON HIGH SCHOOL from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Contact Angela at acampioni@chartermi.net. In addition to entertainment and food, we are hosting the preview of our silent auction, which will include items like a Nintendo Wii, many baskets of clothes and accessories for kids and their families, and even a piece of jewelry from Tiffany & Co.!
We will also be at the Rozsa Center on November 12th before and after the Hot Peas and Butter Concert.
On October 15th we’ll be speaking at the Portage Lake District Library at 6:30 pm. After an overview of the project and a brief update on our latest progress, we’ll be answering questions and taking suggestions. All are welcome and snacks will be provided!
We are working on the end date for our auction and plan for it to be in late November. Stay tuned for an update soon.
You may have also heard that the KFRC received a donation of three 1-carat diamonds to auction off. That is true. And they are beautiful! If you know anyone who would like to make an engagement ring, a pair of earrings, or anything else that sparkles, please pass on our information. We’re accepting offers. All three diamonds come with a formal appraisal and every penny of the purchase price will go to charity. Call Jessica (that’s me) at 281-1353 if you want to know more about the diamonds (cut, color, etc.)
Ruth Gill is chairing the grants committee and she has already helped identify several very promising grants. To volunteer with Ruth, please contact her at ruthphilippagill@hotmail.com.
If you do not have time to donate but still wish to be supportive of this very worthwhile project, please consider making a donation of money. No amount is too small and every bit will help. This is a concrete, finite project and you will see exactly where your donation goes. We are working on formal donation guidelines but there are many ways for donors to be recognized within the space and the community. Please call Cathy Benda at 482-9363 or me at 281-1353 to make a donation.If you have any questions about this project or just want an update on our progress between e-mails, please call me anytime. There are so many exciting things happening, I would love to talk with you about them.
Thanks again for supporting the KFRC and Winter Park and I hope to see you at The Treehouse soon!

Jessica DellaVallaChair, Friends of Winter Park