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News
September 20, 2012
Crane Group Announces $1 Million Donation to Southern Gateway Initiative
From a City of Columbus press release:
COLUMBUS, Ohio - In celebration of Crane Group’s 65th anniversary, Crane Group President and CEO Tanny Crane today announced a $1 million gift to the Southern Gateway Initiative to support efforts to revitalize and redevelop Columbus’ South Side community.
“Our company has been a proud neighbor in the South Side community for 65 years,” Tanny Crane, president and CEO of Crane Group, said. “Our continued support of the Southern Gateway Initiative will ensure that the South Side neighborhoods thrive.”
The contribution will go toward the rehabilitation of the Reeb Elementary School as a multipurpose facility that will offer social programming and house the South Side Learning Center.
The Southern Gateway neighborhood extends from High Street on the west, Morrill Avenue on the north, Parsons Avenue on the east and Hosack Street on the south. Mayor Coleman and other community and business leaders have led redevelopment efforts in the area to improve housing, health care services and neighborhood infrastructure through government, private and nonprofit partners. The City of Columbus has invested $18 million in the Southern Gateway partnerships.
“I salute Crane Group for leading the way to a stronger Southern Gateway neighborhood with this phenomenally generous gift,” Mayor Coleman said. “The transformation of this neighborhood is under way, and because of champions like the Crane Group, we will see this transformation through in the years to come.”
As part of its 65th anniversary celebration, the Crane group also donated time and resources for a new playground at Lincoln Park on Woodrow Avenue. Crane Group worked with the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department to install the new playground.
Crane Group donated $30,000 toward playground equipment and provided over 100 volunteers associates from Crane Group companies, including The Crane Group, Able Roofing, Engineered Profiles, TimberTech and Signature Controls Systems, to build the playground.
Working in tandem with Crane Group volunteers, Columbus Recreation and Parks staff led the team to create the new play space. The Crane Playground features ADA accessible equipment and recycled materials. Children of all ages, especially elementary aged children, will be challenged by the nets, climbers and slides.
Columbus Recreation and Parks Director Alan McKnight said there is nothing more important than providing good recreational opportunities and play spaces.
“Play makes a big difference in the development of children and their healthy lifestyles, and we appreciate the investment that Crane Group has made to the City of Columbus and to Lincoln Park,” McKnight said.