Courtney's SandCastle at 90-Percent Funding

From Mina Santoro, Chair of Courtney's SandCastle Charitable Foundation --

The Courtney's SandCastle Charitable Foundation continues its fundraising to ensure the Phase II portion of the Courtney's SandCastle Universal Playground is completed in its entirety.

As a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, the Courtney's SandCastle Charitable Foundation is very close to its funding goal, which will allow for vital elements to be incorporated into the playground at 987 Avenida Vista Hermosa in San Clemente.

This final phase includes a sensory garden, which will utilize plants, water and other items to help stimulate the senses of those utilizing it. The sensory garden has significant benefits to children diagnosed on the autism spectrum.

These new features, estimated to cost $450,000, will include a sensory garden, two water features, and musical sound boards. Approximately 90 percent has been raised to date towards this goal. The foundation's fundraising efforts got a boost last fall when the .

The matching funds coincide with the foundation's final push to complete Phase II. The foundation's goal is to raise the remaining balance over the next month so that they can go out to bid and open Phase II by Spring 2014.

"This collaborative effort with the City, helps the foundation bring the playground full circle by expanding opportunities for children with disabilities to interact with able-bodied children through interactive play and increase our youth's enjoyment of the playground, while Phase II's completion will enable us to strengthen learning opportunities by offering fun, interactive programs on-site such as marine biology," said Mina Santoro, Chair of Courtney's SandCastle Charitable Foundation.

For more information call 949-940-9246 or to donate, log onto www.courtneyssandcastle.org.