CHILDREN'S PLAYGROUND IS THEIR OWN CREATION

Designed by children who will use it while funded and built by three nonprofit groups, a new playground at a southwest Houston apartment complex promises to bring a community together, and as a consequence pose a deterrent to crime.

Sue Davis, chairwoman of the board of Alliance for Multicultural Community Services, one of the nonprofit groups that brought the project to fruition, said the playground provides a place for families, many who are refugees from Bhutan, to gather and create a community.

"A lot of the kids who live here don't really have a place to go," Davis said. "They don't speak the language yet and they need a safe place to play that is close to home."

Three nonprofit groups were partners in the project that 30 children started with drawings of their ideal playground. The alliance, which provides services to refugee and immigrant families in the Houston area, Miami-based Peace for the Children, which aims at restoring peace in the lives of children in need, and KaBOOM!, a national nonprofit that builds playgrounds for underserved communities, collaborated on building the playground.

"These kids drew out their dream playground, and we are making their dreams come true," said Lisa Pliner, who with her husband, Donald J. Pliner, the luxury shoe and accessories designer, founded Peace for the Children. The organization donated $125,000 for the project.

The Pliners came from Miami to join the dozens of volunteers on Nov. 12 to transform part of a rundown concrete parking lot into an oasis of fun and color at Los Arcos apartments, 11315 Fondren.

It was only five weeks ago the playground was an imaginative spark in the minds of children who live at the complex and attended an event to design the playground.

A sandbox and swing set were among features that appeared frequency in their drawings and now are prominent pieces on the playground. The playground, against a backdrop of a specially designed mural depicting children playing, includes two blue-and-yellow climbing and slide structures. It also incorporates hopscotch and a mini-track, springers for younger children, benches, a shaded area and the Pliners' distinctive peace pole.

"This is a good design and plan for the neighborhood," said Til Ghale, a refugee from Bhutan, who lives at the complex and was among the volunteers helping out. "This is a good opportunity for children to have a good time."

The playground also has the added benefit of deterring crime, according to Houston Police Department officers who patrol the area.

"This is a good family oriented property and this playground gives out a message," Officer Mark E. Perez said. "It's like oil and water. Gangs don't want to come on to a property that is obviously family oriented."

It is the second playground the Pliners have funded, and one of 1,731 recreational parks across the country that Washington, D.C.-based KaBOOM! coordinated, by bringing together businesses and community interests.

"Out of all the communities we have worked with, this one had the biggest heart," said Kara Hoffman of KaBOOM! "We asked them to pull this together and they did it in five weeks."

As for the Pliners, they already are looking forward to supporting the next playground.

"The energy and the high you get when everyone works together, it's amazing," Donald Pliner said.

Lisa Pliner embarks on a new mission!
"Rally for kids"

Letter from Lisa Pliner

Dear Friends,

Because of my passion to help children in need, Peace for Children foundation is entering a team in the "Rally for Kids with Cancer Scavenger Cup", chaired by Eva Longoria Parker and Loren Ridinger. Proceeds from the Rally will benefit the Jackson Memorial Foundation, Holtz Children's Hospital and the International Kids Fund.

I will be driving in the Rally on November 21, 2009 and need your help. Please click on the link below to donate funds to my team, Peace for the Children. I need to raise a minimum of $25,000. Any contribution you can make will help us to make a difference in the lives of children with cancer.

There will be a large media presence at the event and, thus, an opportunity for exposure. As an added incentive, if you donate $1000 or more, I will display your logo on my car.

https://app.webdonate.com/Participant/LisaP.aspx

Should you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact us at info@peaceforthechildren.org if you would like more information about the Rally please visit www.rallyforkids.com. Thank you so much for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Lisa Pliner

PLINER'S PLEDGE FOR PEACE
A DISTINGUISHED SHOE DESIGNER SHARES HIS STORY
By Tracy Block Photos courtesy Donald Pliner

Click to view a larger version

Cover Article1 Article2

Click for PDF Format

In the past few weeks, Donald J Pliner has divided his time between design approval in Europe, shoe show prep in New York and a brief trip home for a family visit. He's currently back in NY putting the finishing touches on his Spring 2010 line to showcase at his showroom at the New York Shoe Expo, only five days away. Pliner's stress levels are surprisingly undetectable from what he refers to as "18-hour workdays." and for a renowned shoe designer/husband/father/philanthropist he's incredibly centered. Perhaps the success of his ever-expanding brand, coupled with the recent triumphs of his Peace for the Children Foundation, creates the perfect balance.

THE FAMILY MAN
Pliner and his wife Lisa were always wholeheartedly dedicated to the design and growth of the Donald J Pliner brand, and when deciding to expand their family and add a little one into the mix, they never anticipated the rough waters ahead. A few years ago, Donald and Lisa were faced with an unthinkable trauma: the loss of their child at birth. When the Pliners came to terms with the fact that they would not be able to conceive, they began sorting through international adoption plans and booked a visit to a Kazakhstani orphanage. "There are so many political problems with adoption [in Kazakhstan], and taking a child out of the country." Pliner says. "All of these babies are being born to drug-addicted women...

... And you look through the windows of the adoption houses at children of all ages who can't do anything but hope someone finds them."

Donald and Lisa first visited their soon-to-be daughter four years ago, where they were allotted only one hour a day for three weeks for visitation. Strict rules prevented the Pliners from taking their child outdoors. "If we put a barrette in her hair, they would shave her head," recalls Pliner. Seeing the harsh struggles the children faced firsthand left a lingering impact on the Pliners.

A STARR IS BORN
At 11 months old, Donald and Lisa finally brought their baby daughter home to Miami. They named her Starr Emmanuelle, "The double "r" in Starr is for all the stars in the sky we had to pass so far to get her, and Emmanuelle, which means "god within" in Hebrew," Pliner says. But with the joy they experienced with a baby to finally call their own came reoccurring thoughts of the pain and turmoil children around the world were facing. The Pliners knew they had to do something to help the children, which became the long-time philanthropist's main priority.

One day, the Pliners took a fieldtrip to the Miami Children's Museum, where Starr Emmanuelle took her first steps. "She saw the children walk, so she walked," Pliner says. While watching the communication between children that day, the Pliners learned that with interaction, there's a will for peace. And soon, the Peace for Children Foundation (PFTCF) was born.

BREAKING GROUND
To begin, PFTC raised funds through Donald J Pliner women's shoe sales. With the purchase of any pair of shoes with a dangling peace sign accessory came the automatic donation of one dollar to the foundation (today, a portion of sales from all Donald J Pliner products - shoes, accessories and handbags - benefit PFTC).

After researching non-profit collaborations, the Pliners contacted KaBoom!, a national non-profit organization that builds playgrounds in order to promote play for the well-being of children. Eight months ago, PFTC joined forces with KaBoom! to build the first joint-effort, non-profit playground of its kind. The location: the Miami Children's Museum, where Starr Emmanuelle took her first steps. "As Lisa says, "I a child could have one day to play like everyone else, children can learn to communicate and play together, no matter religion or race, it can bring peace," says Pliner.

On Sept. 20, 2008, 175 volunteers spent less than seven hours to erect the Miami Children's Museum playground, and KaBooms' landmark 1,500th playground.

"Volunteers went through 25,000 lbs. of foundation without a mixer, 2,000 bottles of water, no bathroom breaks, and suddenly there was a playground," Pliner remembers.

Since then, Pliner has received tremendous praise throughout the community. "We really love the park and the schools and charters are so thankful for these kids to have a park to play in. The communication will improve their physical, mental and whole state of mind." In addition, the City of Coral Gables and Miami-Dade County declared September 19 to officially be known as Donald J Pliner Day. And, although Pliner is modest in accepting all the recognition, "Acknowledgement for the betterment of a people is always positive and wonderful."

*PFTC is currently planning additional partnerships with KaBoom! There are playgrounds in the works in Houston and perhaps Chicago, with hopes to involve President Obama and Oprah Winfrey in the near future.

<< Back To Article Listing