Day Six: Pay Day!

By: William H. Dodd, CLU – Volunteer and Vice President of the MDRT Foundation

After working hard and late on Thursday to put down the final mulch on the floor of the playground, we had a chance to sleep late Friday morning and report to the site at noon for lunch. We were able to mingle with the crowd of school kids, Toronto dignitaries and local parents before our dedication ceremony.

What a wonderful experience to be part of the dedication of the playground, and see how much the area families appreciate our handiwork. We listened to the speakers, including: The Honorable David Onley -- who is the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario; Chris Marshall, Regional Vice President West of Kids Around the World; Jim Rogers, MDRT President; Patty Krarup, MDRT Foundation President; Les Canavan, President of the MDRT Canadian Foundation; Vic Kazazian, Vice President of Sun Life; Gary Crossdale, Lord Dufferin School Principal; and Debbie Wood, Vice President of the Canadian Foundation. Then there was the official ribbon-cutting and the opening of the park.

What a wonderful five days. The best part of the these five days was the ribbon-cutting and seeing all the kids run onto "their playground" using all the rides that we provided them and the basketballs, soccer balls and kick balls they can call their own.

Day Five: Mounds of Mulch!

By: Jerry Sletten, FIC – MDRT member and KIDS Board member

What a great day – our last day of construction dawned on the cool side – 45 degrees. However, we warmed up quickly as we faced a 100 yard pile of mulch which had arrived on-site late last night. Everyone cheerfully jumped into – and on – the pile and made quick work of it. Then came sod and we all became landscape architects as we laid sod all around our beautiful playground. My favorite event was John Marshall Lee leading a happy group of elves tamping down the soil while singing – “Heigh-Ho, Heigh-Ho, It’s Off to Work We Go.” Tomorrow is “payday” for us all – dedication day!

By: Brian Medendorp – Volunteer

It was a day of hard work with great reward. Construction complete!

We arrived at the site early this morning to 100 yards of wood chips. Not too bad...until the second 100 yards arrived at about 5:00 PM - after backfilling the wall spreading 20 yards of dirt and laying 250 rolls of sod. A VERY hard day of work, however, it was not without reward. During the morning recess many children had the first opportunity to try out the equipment. All it took was a brief demonstration on the "sky runner" and we could not hold the children back any longer…such joy on their faces! The smiles were unforgettable. I can not wait for tomorrow's unveiling!

Day Four: Whole Persons Filling Holes...and Cementing Relationships

By: John Marshall Lee, CLU, RHU – Volunteer

Today was cloudy and cool but the rain held off. Early activity included re-measuring holes, leveling fixtures one last time and preparing the basketball poles and hoops. At 10:07 AM the concrete truck arrived. A lineup of seven wheelbarrows and handlers, some veterans and some rookies, kept rotating – getting a concrete load from the truck, rolling to over 40 empty holes, and back in line for refills. A wheelbarrow full of damp concrete is not only heavy, but unwieldy. However, the gravel base of the playground saved most rookies embarrassment. One volunteer did manage to dump his load of concrete and his wheelbarrow into a hole early on. He heard about it from the rest and didn’t do it again. The holes were finally filled. Lunch came as the concrete was drying and then two more fixtures were set in the concrete forms and leveled. Wrap-up time.

Lord Dufferin School boasts 500 students. Today, an additional 400 students came to share the school because of a breakdown of water pipes in their school. At recess and lunch the current playground facilities were dwarfed by the number of kids playing.

We were able to locate Gabriel Ginalli-Marquez; one of the 19 students in Ms. Lum’s first grade class – he was the bright and generous student who offered to donate some funds toward the playground build. That willingness to be involved in “one-handed giving” (writing a check, donating cash to a basket) is most unusual in someone so young. However, the “two-handed” generosity of volunteers (giving dollars and time) and the one-handed generosity of MDRT Foundation donors have served this playground build well. For those who believe that building in Canada does not represent an international effort, know that Ms. Lum’s class of 19 students includes children from 10 different countries – China, Vietnam, Somalia, Ethiopia, Ghana, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, El Salvador, Ecuador and Jamaica.

Tomorrow is mulch day and prep for our dedication ceremony!!

Day Three: Sunshine, Progress and Kids!

By: Brent R. Kimball, CFP, ChFC - Volunteer and MDRT Foundation Trustee

The reason we are here became apparent today. The kids showed up at school. Yesterday was a holiday and the neighborhood was very quiet. Today the playground yard was filled with kids at recess. It is an extremely diverse group from many different countries and cultures. They swarmed us at the build site filled with many questions and big smiles.

We completed all the equipment assembly today, including the main tower structure, park benches and two complete basketball sets. Tomorrow the concrete trucks arrive -- I can hardly wait! Wheelbarrows full of heavey, wet cement to be carted around on soft gravel.

We discussed today doing something special for the school as a gift from the volunteers. We have not finalized what that will be, but before I could get out the door to get back to work, a volunteer anonomously slipped me $100 toward our gift.

The best story of the day came from MDRT Foundation Past President John Marshall Lee. A first-grader approached him at recess and offered him money to help pay for the playground. John explained that it was already paid for and his to enjoy. The child's response was, "Wow! Thanks!"

Perhaps being generous and thankful doesn't have to be taught to most adults on the planet. Perhaps we just need to be reminded what it is like to be a kid anywhere in the World.

Day Two: The Building Begins!

By: Deborah Wood, CFP, CLU
Playground Volunteer and Vice President, MDRT Canadian Foundation

We’ve come, we’ve gathered and we’ve begun to conquer!

On a cool and overcast morning, MDRT volunteers, friends and Kids Around the World staff put in a full day at Lord Dufferin Public School. Situated in the heart of Regent Park in downtown Toronto, this is an inner city neighborhood in transition.

Job 1: empty the semi-truck full of equipment – requiring muscles, backs and cooperation.

Job 2: Dig holes and wheelbarrow the dirt – requiring muscles, backs and cooperation.

Job 3: Put together the wood retaining walls – requiring muscles, backs, sledge hammers, chain saws and cooperation.

Job 4: Assemble the main playground structure – requiring muscles, backs, jack hammers, crowbars, levels, fine motor skills and cooperation.

We’re told we are ahead of schedule – what a team!

We’re told it will be sunny and warmer tomorrow! What fun!

Day One: The Volunteers Arrive!

Today was arrival day with volunteers traveling from across Canada and the United States and from as far away as Belgium. The excitement is high as everyone gathered for an opening reception to meet fellow volunteers and learn about the week ahead. We had the opportunity to learn about the neighborhood of Regent Park and the tremendous need for a playground to provide the children with a safe place to play. The team is lead by the presidents of MDRT, the MDRT Foundation and the MDRT Canadian Foundation. Through our project leader at Kids Around the World, we know that the children of Lord Dufferin Public School can hardly wait for their new playground. Despite a day full of steady rain, as the opening reception arrived the rain stopped, the sun came out and all of a sudden we were looking at a beautiful day...a sign that this playground build was meant to be. Our heartfelt thanks to Creative Planning Financial Group for their generous underwriting of the Opening Reception and their commitment to the children of Toronto.

Tomorrow, the real work begins...starting with unloading the truckload of playground equipment, timbers and tools that will transform an empty lot into a park that will benefit the 600 children at the school and many more within the community. We invite you to join us in this transformation by coming back to this blog and celebrating the change with us each day.

MDRT Foundation and MDRT Canadian Foundation in partnership with Kids Around the World (KIDS) are building a playground in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Diary of the MDRT Foundation Playground Build with MDRT members

Imagine a world where all children have the chance to play together without limitations. Imagine a world where children can nurture their imaginations in a colorful world of play. Imagine becoming a hero for countless smiling children by building this world of hope and endless possibilities.

The MDRT Foundation and MDRT Canadian Foundation in partnership with Kids Around the World (KIDS), based in Rockford, Ill. are helping KIDS continue their mission of building playgrounds for children in underserved communities worldwide.

On May 19-23, more than 30 MDRT members, family and industry friends will work shoulder-to-shoulder, participating at their own expense, to build a playground for the children of Regent Park, a low-income neighborhood in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

For the last 49 years, your MDRT Foundation has maximized MDRT’s commitment to social responsibility with the goal of creating stronger families and communities worldwide. This will be the sixth community development project with KIDS.

The MDRT Foundation thanks our lead sponsor for this event: Sun Life Financial, and our corporate donors, which include Daystar Financial Group Inc., Creative Planning Financial Group and RBC Insurance.

Playground volunteers will construct this fun playground with the help of professional KIDS playground installers. Once we complete our playground, volunteers will have the opportunity to unleash their inner child during the official grand opening celebrations. Just imagine the shrieks of excitement and laughter from children running onto their brand new playground for the first time!

Over the course of the build you will see, first-hand, how MDRT members touch lives each day. All the while, please remember that we are here representing you, the members of MDRT and the financial services industry, who have helped make this support possible through your gifts to the MDRT Foundation.

Warmest regards,

Patricia L. Krarup, MSFS, CLU
2008 MDRT Foundation President

Leslie J. Canavan, CLU, RHU
2008 MDRT Canadian Foundation President