RevoluSun Brightens Drive For Niu Valley Playground Project

RevoluSun employees and Niu Valley residents (back, from left) Kim Green, Iolani Lewis and Michelle Chung pose with their kids. The solar firm recently donated $5,000 to the Niu Valley playground fund and pledged $500 to the fund for each solar system sold this month in the neighborhood. The design was finished in January, but the community needs to raise about $64,000 more by March in order to start construction and open the play area by summer. Photo from Jennifer Pang.

The Niu Valley playground project got a recent boost when RevoluSun donated $5,000 to the cause and pledged other help as well.

The play-starved community needs $100,000 to purchase a special playground for the only park in the valley. The design was completed last month, and the group has raised about $36,000 so far. The goal is to raise the remaining $64,000 by March in order to start construction and have it completed by June.

RevoluSun also has pledged to donate $500 for each solar system sold in February in the area, where it already has a dozen systems. Many of its employees also live in the valley.

“As the only park in the valley, Niu Valley Park is a central location for sports and outdoor activities for the entire community,” added City Councilman Stanley Chang of the public/private partnership. “The residents have been working for several years to build this playground, and I fully support this initiative.”

Playground project chairman Peter Kay called the locally owned solar installer “a perfect example of a company embracing a spirit of giving and community. We hope that more organizations will follow their lead.” RevoluSun also plans an awareness campaign that combines its solar seminars with regular announcements, yard signs and direct mailers about the playground project.

Residents also plan a benefit ice cream social from 5 to 9 p.m. Feb. 28 at Bubbie’s in Koko Marina Center. Resident Samantha Spain, owner of Bali Furnishings, will give a portion of company sales to the fund. Other committed corporate sponsors are HMSA Foundation, Landscape Structures, KaBOOM!, Let’s Play and the Dr. Pepper Snapple Group.

For updates on the fund, go to niuvalleyplayground.com.