Marcus Fiesel
Memorial Fund
For the All-Children's Playground
at Beech Acres Park
On August 15, 2006 three-year-old
Marcus Fiesel was first introduced to this community as a foster child
missing from Juilfs Park. Immediately,
and for the next several days, hundreds of individuals and emergency personnel
came from the all over the Tri-State area to comb the park and surrounding
neighborhoods in search of the boy everyone thought
had wandered away. Businesses
donated food and supplies. Candlelight vigils were held. The
entire community hoped for the safe return of Marcus.
Now, an entire community mourns.
As the
shocking details of Marcus’ death begin to surface, the same community
that came together in the search for Marcus is coming together once more
in an effort to make something good come out of this unthinkable tragedy. The
Anderson Township Park District has received an overwhelming number of requests from
individuals who are determined to do something in memory of Marcus. Many
have expressed that they feel like Marcus has become a part of their lives. They
say they don’t want him to be forgotten and have made pleas to the
park district to provide something tangible that will keep his memory alive.
Requests have involved providing
funding in Marcus’ name
for the proposed All-Children's
Inclusive Playground at Beech Acres Park. This
50,000 square foot playground has been designed with physically and developmentally
challenged children in mind so that all children, regardless of their abilities,
can play side-by-side. Donations would allow a portion of the playground
to be built along with a monument in memory of Marcus. Previous fundraisers
have allowed the park district to install a section of the playground in
the spring of 2006. In addition, this project was
financially assisted by The H.G., H.F. & L.T. Dornette Foundation, Fifth
Third Bank and Stan Koller, Co-Trustees in the amount of $100,000.
This grant will enable the park district to begin construction on another
phase of the playground soon.
The outpouring of concern has been
beyond expectation. Additional suggestions have included a tree,
park bench or other type of memorial for Marcus at Juilfs Park. The
requests received by the Anderson Township Park District from residents for a tangible
memorial within our community have been unsolicited. We continue to recommend
making contributions to the Beech Acres Parenting Center (Beechacres.org)
or one of the many other worthwhile organizations of your choice. However,
if you would like to contribute in Marcus’ name to the All-Inclusive
Playground, you can do so by through one of the methods listed to the right.
|
ATPD
Board Members Dale Bartholomew, Gail Wright, Johnny's Car Wash
representatives Kelly Blair, Marilyn Socol, Ron Woolwine, ATPD Board
President Mark Bissinger and ATPD Board Members Nadine Gelter and
Duffy Beischel.
A
CARing Contribution!
Special
Thanks to Johnny’s Car Wash! This Anderson business
raised $5,185 for the Marcus Fiesel Fund donating $1 for every
car washed during the month of September.
How to Contribute to the Marcus Fiesel Playground
Memorial Fund:
- Make a donation online using our secure form. Click
here to donate.
- Checks, made payable to the Anderson Foundation for
Parks & Recreation, can also be mailed to:
Anderson Township
Park District
8249 Clough Pike
Cincinnati, Ohio, 45244.
Questions can be directed to Emily Armstrong at 513.388.5096
or Email
The donations are tax deductible under Title 26, Chapter
1, Section 170 of IRS code and section 92 of ORC. |
