Bennett’s Village – ReimagineCVA

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Bennett's Village

Children Senior Services Social Justice & Equality Veterans & Military Families

716 Shamrock Rd, Charlottesville, Va 22903

Phone (973) 769 - 1021

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Our mission	Bennett’s Village is dedicated to making the world a more inclusive place for ALL to play.

Opportunities	Join the Party in the Park 2025 Special Event Committee Bennett’s Village invites those with event planning skills to join our “Party in the Park” Event Planning Committee! As we continue our mission to build an all-abilities play space, we are excited to host a memorable event in Spring 2025 that brings our community together in support of this vision. If you have event planning, community outreach, or marketing skills, we especially encourage you to join this committee. What is the “Party in the Park”? “Party in the Park” will be a fun-filled, family-friendly event to celebrate the grand opening of the accessible treehouse at Pen Park. We envision a day filled with music, games, food, and accessible activities for people of all ages and abilities. Why Join the Planning Committee? By joining our committee, you will have the opportunity to: Shape the event: Contribute your ideas and expertise to create an engaging and meaningful experience for attendees. Make a difference: Help raise awareness and funds to support the construction of Bennett’s Village, making inclusive play a reality in Charlottesville. Build community: Connect with like-minded individuals who are passionate about creating accessible spaces for everyone in our community. How to Get Involved? Email the Party in the Park Event Committee Co-Chairs Yuki Weaver and Kara McClurken to sign up and for more information. We will begin planning for this event in Fall 2024, so don’t hesitate to sign up! , How Often Teens, 55+, Adults Individuals, Groups (2-10), Groups (10+) Virtual, Phone Calling, Outdoor, Project-based Become a Volunteer, Committee Member, or Board Member Bennett’s Village is seeking passionate individuals to join us in various roles as volunteers, committee members, and board members to help us achieve our mission. Volunteers: If you want to make a difference and can spare time to help with working tabling or fundraising events fundraising or other hands-on tasks, we welcome your energy and enthusiasm. Volunteer opportunities are always listed here. And you can sign up using our volunteer form to stay in the know! Committee Members: Are you interested in taking a more active role in Bennett’s Village? Join one of our committees! We currently have committees for event planning, governance, grants, education and outreach, social media and marketing, finance, and our capital campaign committee. Your expertise and commitment will help us navigate challenges and seize opportunities. Sign up using our volunteer form to express your interest in joining a committee. Board Members: We are looking for dedicated individuals with a strong commitment to inclusivity and accessibility. Board Members formulate, evaluate, and coordinate policy and direction for Bennett’s Village committees and volunteers. No matter your background or experience level, if you share our passion for creating a space where people of all abilities can play, learn, and grow together, we encourage you to get involved. If you have questions or would like more information, please email [email protected]. Ongoing Teens, 55+, Adults Individuals, Groups (2-10), Groups (10+) Virtual, Skills-based, Outdoor, Project-based None, On-site, Formal, Skilled Anytime Make a Donation to the Accessible Treehouse at Pen Park Join Bennett’s Village and help meet the goal of raising money to create the first multigenerational, all-abilities play space in Charlottesville. The first phase of our project is an accessible treehouse, currently under construction at Pen Park. Donations of any amount help! Donate here. Can’t contribute money? Spread the word about Bennett’s Village in-person or via social media. Ongoing Virtual, In Person

Stories	A playground for Iryl by Kendra Butler A playground for Iryl by Kendra Butler Letter from a Teacher Letter from a Teacher

How you help	You can help by making a financial donation of any amount and by volunteering your time to one of our committees, events, or through Board service. We also offer sponsorships to interested businesses and organizations. We are happy to discuss partnerships with like-minded non-profits and other groups.

About us	We are working to build a multi-generational, all-abilities playground here in Charlottesville and advocating to change the way our community sees inclusion. Bennett’s Village was inspired by the life of a remarkable little boy named Bennett McClurken-Gibney. Bennett was born with a rare disease called Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). His parents were told he was not expected to live past his 2nd birthday – and yet Bennett thrived. He loved people and loved to play with the help of his power wheelchair. Bennett’s sudden passing at age 5 was the impetus for his parents to begin the journey of building Charlottesville’s first truly inclusive and accessible playground for people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. Bennett’s Village playground will include spaces for sensory and nature play, water play, hide and seek, a treehouse, cableway, round swings, and most importantly, places where people can play with and near each other without being excluded due to ability.