Rotary donation to help fund Everett playground project

Lincoln’s Downtown Rotary Club has donated $50,000 to Everett Elementary School to help with the revitalization of its playground at 11th and C streets.

Jim Griesen, president of the Rotary 14 Foundation, presented the donation to Everett Principal Mike Long during a ceremony at the playground on Aug. 24 after the school day. Lincoln Board of Education Member Barb Baier - whose District 3 includes the Everett neighborhood - also was on hand, along with current Downtown Rotary President Randy Bretz and former presidents Mark Stephens and Jennifer Brinkman.

“We’re thrilled to have Rotary 14 work with our students, our faculty and our staff,” Long said. “Our school serves many refugee and immigrant families and the involvement of Rotary shows them that people in Lincoln care for them. I can’t begin to tell you how excited our students are for the new playground.”

“It’s with particular pleasure that we present this gift to Everett Elementary,” Griesen said. “We’re excited to see the changes taking place on the playground and look forward to a formal dedication ceremony later this year.”

---