In this part of Southern Indiana you won’t have to go far to find local industry that provides charitable good will to their community as Holiday World hosted its 25th Annual Play Day.
Yesterday, at Holiday World it was nothing but smiling faces as the local theme park hosted over 3,500 area children with disabilities, with school groups from throughout Southern Indiana, Southern Illinois and Western Kentucky participating in the days event.
Throughout the Play Day children enjoyed all the perks of Holiday World as it was dedicated to everything they needed, along with an Easterseals Ambassador who was on hand to demonstrate a new wheelchair accessible carousel that is available for this summer season.
Holiday World donated all the Play Day admissions, which where the combined total of an 11 dollar donation by each person, bringing this years gift to approximately $38,000 in proceeds to be donated to the Easterseals Rehabilitation Center. Easterseals serves more than 5,500 children and adults with disabilities from a 30-county area.
The donated contributions to the rehabilitation center will fund two projects with the first project dedicated to completing improvements at Will’s Way Playground at the Easterseals Rehabilitation Center’s therapeutic preschool. The playground was recently named in memory of Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari’s late President Will Koch and his positive, can-do attitude: “Where there’s a Will, there’s a way.”
Funds for the second project will focus on updating furnishings, equipment and supplies for Easterseals Milestones Child Development Center that provides inclusive early care and education for up to 200 children of differing abilities, 6 weeks to 6 years old.
Holiday World’s President and CEO Matt Eckert shared why this is a favorite day for everyone involved…
With the Play Day this year Holiday World debuted its newly added Calming Room, located at the parks facility. The room will be provided for children who experience sensory issues. Along with the new addition of the calming room there have been 3 more rides made fully accessible for individuals who use wheelchairs.
Pam Kirk, an ambassador with Easterseals, shared how Holiday World strives to make the park a positive experience for everyone and how the Play Day is so important to area families.
Including this year’s gift, Holiday World has donated approximately $442,606 in Play Day proceeds to the Easterseals Rehabilitation Center since 1993. Those donations have supported life-changing programs, provided much-needed therapy equipment, and funded thousands of therapy sessions for tri-state children with disabilities.
At the Easterseals Rehabilitation Center no one is turned away due to inability to pay for therapy. Holiday World’s support helps to make a profound, positive difference in the lives of tri-state individuals with disabilities every day.
