Jeremy was a kid at heart. |
Jeremy often spoke with conviction about his belief in the importance of play for children, especially as a coping and emotional healing mechanism. It was this belief that inspired Jeremy to use his skill and charm on many projects geared to benefit children. While serving as a Board Member and Board President at Christine Ann Domestic Abuse Services, Inc. (CADASI) one such project was to get a play set donated and installed at the shelter.
Children at the shelter often leave behind familiar play areas such as a favorite park or special backyard. Jeremy was pleased with the play set installation, but hinted on more than one occasion that he would have liked to see a much more expanded outdoor playground at the shelter. He envisioned an area for children of all ages and abilities where they can feel safe and maybe, if even only for a moment, forget the troubles of the world around them. Following his untimely death, a loyal network of his friends agreed to complete his vision. What came from that was an event that was coordinated in less than 3 months and, thanks to the generous support of the community, raised over $35,000 to make "Jeremy's Playground" a reality! |
Now what? |
After a few weeks of well deserved rest, the loyal network of friends were back at work. While they had never coordinated an event like the Rock 'n' Glow before, the group had the experience to make it happen. Where they lacked the experience was how to BUILD the playground. They knew they needed help.
An extensive search was held to find the right partners for the project. They needed to have the expertise to take the project from start to finish. Ideally, they would also be local, familiar with the great work of CADASI and perhaps even be familiar with Jeremy. After a few attempts, the group eventually met with the staff of RH Design Build of Oshkosh and they knew a perfect match had been made. |
The plans... |
The goal for the Jeremy Monnett Playground at the Christine Ann Center has always been to create a sheltered outdoor play area that provides multiple activities for children of all ages and abilities. The plans for the project are still being finalized, but these images represent the latest in the project evolution. While the original desire was for the project to be complete in 2016, unavoidable obstacles have pushed the completion to 2017. The intent is for the groundbreaking to occur early spring with a dedication in early summer.
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How to help THIS year's project. |
The first thing you can do is to participate in this Run/Walk!
Following the overwhelming feedback last year, everyone involved with the planning agreed to bring back what had only been considered a one-time event so we could continue Jeremy's work in the community as well as celebrate the impact he made on our lives. Your participation in this year's event will help the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation and others finish Jeremy's incomplete goal of lighting all of Oshkosh's bridges - specifically the Oshkosh Ave. bridge at Highway 21. Additional donations are also being accepted for this project. You can choose to make your donation online though our registration site whether you are registering to participate in the Run/Walk or not. You can also make a contribution directly through the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation website or by contacting them at (920)426-3993 or [email protected]. There will also be an later to be announced additional fundraising event held by the riverfront businesses of Oshkosh and held at Fox River Brewing Company by the bridge. |