Raccoon Valley Electric Cooperative (RVEC) has contributed to the area’s first all-inclusive playground, Kellan’s Kingdom, with a substantial gift to the project on Giving Tuesday. A $5,000 donation from Raccoon Valley and $10,000 in matching grants from their business partners, Colorado-based CoBank and Bison Electric Power Cooperative in North Dakota, were presented to the originators of Kellan’s Kingdom, Pat and Alie Tigges. CEO, Jim Gossett, credits the company’s staff for backing the donation.
Gossett adds a donation like this is at the core of what they stand for.
Pat and Alie, the parents of Kellan, who was born with a condition similar to cerebral palsy, were thrilled with the gift that will help bring to life their idea for a playground that can be used by children of all physical and developmental levels. Fundraising started earlier this year, and they both say they cannot believe how much support they have received since. The attention for this project has spanned the area and even further, resulting in donations from as far away as Connecticut. Since beginning this effort, Pat and Alie have also been contacted by the Miracle League about adding a baseball/softball field to the planned play area.
The idea of incorporating that with the playground and finding a location that may be big enough to accommodate both is currently being brought to city leaders for discussion by the Tigges family. Fundraising will continue with any extra dollars going towards the Miracle League portion and the addition of equipment in other parks. A link to last week’s story on this work with the city can be found below.
