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The charity donated $16,990 for the play equipment in San Juan Bautista's new playground and gardens, located beside the 425 S. Duke St. church.
Kathy Denton, executive director of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Pennsylvania, said her organization was "very impressed" with San Juan Bautista's proposal: a playground within the church's yard that would be open to all the children in the neighborhood.
"We were very moved by the proposal and delighted to help financially to make it happen," Denton said.
Over the 15-year existence of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Pennsylvania, it has granted $1.75 million to local nonprofit organizations through money raised from donation boxes at 83 participating restaurants, according to Steve Brodur, chair of the grants committee.
"I knew about the Ronald McDonald House, but I didn't know they gave money away (to other organizations)," said Judy Gantz, who works with youth ministry and development at San Juan Bautista and is director of its summer camp.
When she saw several news articles that the charity gives grants to nonprofit organizations, she approached the pastor and a local McDonald's owner about applying for the grant to build a lighted, secure playground away from gang activity and gun violence in the city.
When the McDonald's owner, said they do give money to churches and for playgrounds, "I thought that was pretty much a green light," Gantz said.
Although the grant was awarded last summer, the congregation actually received the check on Wednesday.Other benefactors include Wild Bill's Foods, The Dart Foundation, Mrs. Judy Cook and El Serrano Restaurant.
"We wanted a safe and enjoyable place for families, a place of beauty with a family garden as well as a playground," the Rev. Allan F. Wolfe pastor of San Juan Bautista said.
The fenced-in, secure playground officially opened June 24.
"We did a lottery between the summer camp and the preschool (which have a combined total of 140 children) to determine which could go on the unit first," Wolfe said.
The playground equipment includes a small sliding board, a spiral sliding board, a climbing wall, two types of fireman's poles and monkey bars. There also is a small plot of ground set aside for preschoolers to learn about gardening, he said.
The upper level will have a large cobblestone patio area with a sitting wall, a statue of the Virgin Mary and a garden filled with shrubs, plants and flowers — a beautiful and relaxing area for reflection and meditation, Wolfe said.
Marti Verastegui Pawlikowski, director of the church's preschool, said the playground will be a great addition for the growing preschool, providing safety and fun for young children.
"The children saw a yard full of grass convert magically in one week to a playground," she said.
(606) (38) (20) (14) (3)E-mail: lvaningen@lnpnews.com
