Representatives of the Colleen Shea Children’s Foundation presented a check for $40,000 to the Wilkes-Barre Special Needs Playground Committee Thursday at Kirby Park. From left: Nancy Shea, Colleen Shea’s mother; Patty Prociak, foundation chair; Mike Prociak, Mayor George Brown; Lizzie Breznay, Helene Breznay (Lizzie’s mother).
Bill O’Boyle | Times Leader
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WILKES-BARRE — With a construction crew busily working in the background on the new Wilkes-Barre Special Needs Playground in Kirby Park Thursday morning, officials gathered to receive three significant donations from organizations who believe in the project.
Mayor George Brown accepted the checks on behalf of the Wilkes-Barre Special Needs Playground Committee.
• $40,000 from the Colleen Shea Children’s Foundation.
• $14,314.07 from Lizzie Breznay and her family, which represents money raised from “Lizzie’s Fabulous Friday Footlong Fundraiser,” held Aug. 20, 2021.
• $2,000 from the Wilkes-Barre Kiwanis Club.
“These donations will help create this playground for children with special needs,” Brown said. “And we will also build a second special needs playground at The Bog in Miners Mills.”
Brown said the Kirby Park playground is expected to open in August.
Patty Prociak, chair of the Colleen Shea Children’s Foundation, presented the check.
“Our mission is to help change the lives of children with special needs,” Prociak said. “We are very proud to support this project.”
Lizzie Breznay, 21, has cerebral palsy. Her mom, Helene, and dad, Brian, said Lizzie’s fundraiser was held last August at Torony’s Hot Dogs in Plains Township.
Don Armstrong presented the check on behalf of the Wilkes-Barre Kiwanis Club.
The Colleen Shea Children’s Foundation was created in memory of Colleen Shea, who tragically passed away in an automobile accident in October 2001. Prociak said the foundation’s mission is to raise “funds for the benefit of charitable organizations dedicated to the research, treatment and eradication of childhood diseases and maladies and supporting other charitable organizations dedicated to the general welfare of children.”
Colleen Shea’s mother, Nancy, attended the ceremony.
Representatives from the Rotary Club of Wyoming also attended and they were recognized for their $500 donation to the playground project.
Contributions to the Wilkes-Barre Special Needs Playground Fund can be made by check, payable to:
The Luzerne Foundation with “W-B Playground Fund” noted in the memo.
Checks can be mailed to 34 South River St., Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702.
To contribute by credit card, visit: https://www.luzfdn.org/cause-posts/wilkes-barre-special-needs-playground-fund/
Mayor Brown said the Wilkes-Barre Special Needs Playground is designed for children with cognitive or physical disabilities, such as autism or Down syndrome.
Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
