John D. Gillen Memorial Skate Park
Donation protected
"Let us build an outdoor skate park that reaches young skaters who need to hear about the consequences of drug addiction."
The Parkesburg Point , a community youth center in Chester County, PA, plans to create an outdoor skate park ...with a purpose. Promoting a message of drug prevention and raising awareness of the dangers of substance abuse will be an important aspect of the skate park. This will be a fun, healthy Christian-based environment that will offer education, support, and a safe haven where kids are reminded that a drug-free lifestyle will guarantee a better chance for a successful future.
"If we’re going to build a skate park, we want it to have a purpose." - Dwayne Walton, President of the Parkesburg Point. He continued: "The outdoor skate park would help keep the older and more advanced skaters involved by offering them greater challenge and variety than the indoor skate park, and it could also benefit current members of the Point and attract more members of the community to the Point’s ministry."
The skate park will be called the John D. Gillen Memorial Skate Park, in memory of Gillen, who died in 2011 from an accidental heroin overdose at age 21. John, was an accomplished skateboarder and an active member of the Point, where he used to mentor beginner skaters.
John represents only one of a large number of Parkesburg youth who in one way or another are affected by addictive behaviors. John's mother, Betsy Gillen, is the Director of the Parkesburg Chapter of Kacie's Cause , an organization with a mission to: Reach out to families in the borough and surrounding communities by providing them with knowledge about the Heroin epidemic and how local residents, schools, and law enforcement can become involved to help and protect each other.
The Point is tasked with raising a significant sum of additional funds before the project can begin, but the goal is to have the park operational for the 2016 season.
Additional estimated funds needed to begin the project are:
$10,000 - Excavation of the existing parking lot
$9,600 - Paving
$6,479 - Fencing
$3,000 - Signage
~$10,000 - Additional ramps & safety equipment*
(*Skate park equipment, valued at over $150,000, has already been donated by the Brandywine YMCA!)
A meeting was held on August 18, 2015 to kick off a public discussion for planning, logistics and fundraising. The Daily Local News covered this event, and featured it in the Sunday, August 23, 2015 issue of their paper. Read the Daily Local News article here.
Pictured above: Dwayne Walton, President of the Parkesburg Point, and Betsy Gillen, Director of Kacie's Cause Parkesburg Chapter.
THE PARKESBURG POINT IS A 501(c)(3) ORGANIZATION. Your donation is tax-deductible.
The Parkesburg Point , a community youth center in Chester County, PA, plans to create an outdoor skate park ...with a purpose. Promoting a message of drug prevention and raising awareness of the dangers of substance abuse will be an important aspect of the skate park. This will be a fun, healthy Christian-based environment that will offer education, support, and a safe haven where kids are reminded that a drug-free lifestyle will guarantee a better chance for a successful future.
"If we’re going to build a skate park, we want it to have a purpose." - Dwayne Walton, President of the Parkesburg Point. He continued: "The outdoor skate park would help keep the older and more advanced skaters involved by offering them greater challenge and variety than the indoor skate park, and it could also benefit current members of the Point and attract more members of the community to the Point’s ministry."
The skate park will be called the John D. Gillen Memorial Skate Park, in memory of Gillen, who died in 2011 from an accidental heroin overdose at age 21. John, was an accomplished skateboarder and an active member of the Point, where he used to mentor beginner skaters.
John represents only one of a large number of Parkesburg youth who in one way or another are affected by addictive behaviors. John's mother, Betsy Gillen, is the Director of the Parkesburg Chapter of Kacie's Cause , an organization with a mission to: Reach out to families in the borough and surrounding communities by providing them with knowledge about the Heroin epidemic and how local residents, schools, and law enforcement can become involved to help and protect each other.
The Point is tasked with raising a significant sum of additional funds before the project can begin, but the goal is to have the park operational for the 2016 season.
Additional estimated funds needed to begin the project are:
$10,000 - Excavation of the existing parking lot
$9,600 - Paving
$6,479 - Fencing
$3,000 - Signage
~$10,000 - Additional ramps & safety equipment*
(*Skate park equipment, valued at over $150,000, has already been donated by the Brandywine YMCA!)
A meeting was held on August 18, 2015 to kick off a public discussion for planning, logistics and fundraising. The Daily Local News covered this event, and featured it in the Sunday, August 23, 2015 issue of their paper. Read the Daily Local News article here.
Pictured above: Dwayne Walton, President of the Parkesburg Point, and Betsy Gillen, Director of Kacie's Cause Parkesburg Chapter.
THE PARKESBURG POINT IS A 501(c)(3) ORGANIZATION. Your donation is tax-deductible.
Fundraising team (2)
Johanna Farra
Organizer
Parkesburg, PA
The Point
Beneficiary
Betsy Gillen
Team member
This team raised $1,265 from 24 other donations.
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