|
Leann Rimes Helps Build Playground in Murfreesboro-Stacy McCloud
A country star gives back to her community.
Leann Rimes received the 2009 Home Dept Humanitarian Award at the ACM Awards show in April. Part of winning includes $61,000 grant to build a playground in the city of the artists' choice.
Leann says the April 17th tornadoes were the main reason she chose neighboring Murfreesboro for the location.
She took several hours out of her day not only hang out with the children that now have a state of the art place to play, but helped in the building process as well. Spring Valley Apartment residents like Roshad Rush now have a much needed safe place for their children to play.
Rush says, "I really so appreciate this happening to us. It's a wonderful thing and brought a lot of people together."
Rimes says it thrills her to know these children will be able to have playground memories like the ones she remembers.
Rimes says, "The swings were my favorite .. I wasn't good at monkey bars."
She adds that being able to give back is the best part of her career.
"It's the most gratifying part of my job, I don't really consider it a job but it's an addition to what I do to be able to use my name for something like this and bring people out, get them involved, great to see a community come together."
Ready to show the world she can certainly do more than sing- Rimes got to work. "Been painting the basketball court, have yellow paint on me. Put up the swing set today."
She says, "I have never done this before and I have to say, I found out that I am pretty handy. I am pretty good."
Certainly worth the work when you see little faces light up.
Rush says, "It's gonna bring a lot of kids together that maybe didn't play with each other or know each other before this playground will bring them together."
Spring Valley Apartments is mainly Section 8 housing and populated with mostly young single mothers.
The playground took just six hours to complete.Leann Rimes Helps Build Playground in Murfreesboro-Stacy McCloud
|