Posted by Suzanne Gochis on Feb 03, 2020
 
Sunrise Rotarians attended the recent grand opening of LEO’s Haven inclusive playground at Chanticleer Park on Saturday, January 18th.  Sunrise Rotary has been a long-time contributor to the project since its inception.  From its rubberized surfacing, adaptive swings, and tactile features to its wheelchair accessible play structure and quiet entryways for those with sensory difficulties, LEO’s Haven was designed to be accessible for children of all abilities.   The event was full of laughter and smiles, but also created moments of tears of joy from parents who were able to watch siblings play together on a playground for the first time.   LEO’s Haven is truly an “inclusive” place. 
 
 
The grand opening event was the culmination of a 6 year journey filled with countless hours of fundraising events, planning meetings, workdays, and other labors of love. Karen Gosling, who has been credited as the inspirational leader for the Sunrise Club, stated  “LEO’s Haven is a magical place for all children and is a remarkable tribute to what can be accomplished when passionate, committed people get together.”  The Sunrise Rotary Club contributed in several ways: they installed the LEO’s Haven sign, designated the project as the beneficiary for several fundraisers including the annual Fire Cracker Race and the Rotary Bike Ride, purchased educational panels for the main plan structure, and encouraged their fellow Rotary Clubs to join the effort.   To date, the club has donated over  $190,000 to the project. 
              
 
Sunrise President Peter Truman commented, “LEO’s Haven is just one example of the type of amazing projects that Sunrise Rotary supports. It also serves as a testament to the power of collaboration among Rotary clubs toward a united goal.”    The next Sunrise event is the Wine 2 Water event at Bargetto's Winery on Saturday, February 8th from 1-4 pm.  This event supports the Sunrise Rotary international water and sanitation project in Uganda.   All are welcome.