Island residents pitch in for Park Day

It’s no wonder. Where else can you take a short walk or drive from your home and arrive on a bustling Lowcountry playground complete with fun-filled activities, field games, musical acts, and the best in Southern cuisine? Like any big production, there are scores of people working behind the scenes to ensure the show goes off without a hitch.

Island resident Jennifer Carrigan sits at the helm of Park Day’s "Mission Control," overseeing planning and operations. According to Carrigan, there is good reason for Park Day’s "hometown feel."

"Park Day has always been a community-oriented event with the philanthropic mission of giving back to the Lowcountry," said Carrigan. "We have more than 100 volunteers working on this year’s event and many of them are Daniel Island residents."

David Pagliarini, who lives and works on Daniel Island, is one such volunteer and an integral part of the Park Day team. Pagliarini serves as President of the Rotary Club of Daniel Island and was given the task of recruiting helpers for many of Park Day’s logistical tasks.

"We’ll be the ones helping to set up, parking cars, supervising the jump castles, cleaning up and doing anything else that is needed," said Pagliarini, who has secured 20 Rotary Club volunteers so far. For the Pagliarini’s, Park Day is a "family affair." His wife will help him watch over the jump castles, while his two sons will distribute water to those participating in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.

"It’s such a great way to benefit those areas in our communities that have the greatest need," added Pagliarini.

Park Day has been heralded as one of Charleston’s most diverse charitable events, raising nearly $70,000 for a variety of area non-profit organizations over the years. That giving spirit is what prompted Chad Vail to get involved. He and several other Daniel Islanders are working on this year’s Charity Challenge.

"The Charity Challenge is a new twist on the ‘Corporate Challenge’ at last year’s Park Day," explained Vail, whose team will represent the Down Syndrome Association of the Lowcountry. "We have at least nine teams who will compete against each other doing fun challenges, each team representing a different local charity."

Sponsorships for the Charity Challenge teams were provided by local businesses, like Vail’s Market Street Deli in downtown Charleston.

"It’s just something I really wanted to help with," added Vail. "We wanted to make the charities the focus this year, to raise awareness. The goal is to build goodwill and expose people who come to Park Day to the local service opportunities that are available to them."

Both Carrigan and Vail noted that relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina and Rita have impacted Park Day, both in terms of the manpower available to help as well as donations. Nevertheless, the Daniel Island–based team has risen to the challenge.

Sara Powell, a Center Park resident, took on the task of securing Park Day sponsorships. According to Dale Carson, a Marketing Consultant hired by The Daniel Island Company, Powell did "a real bang-up job breaking all previous sales records." Powell’s efforts helped bring dozens of area businesses on board, including Park Day’s Key Sponsors: Home Telecom, Phillip W. Smith General Contractor, Inc., The Muhler Company, South Carolina Shrimpers Association, Daniel Island Aesthetic Dentistry, Daniel Island Real Estate, and The Daniel Island News.

Nicole Orvin, of South Ladd Court on Daniel Island, is the coordinator of the popular "Custom-Built Playhouse Raffle." The raffle will feature playhomes built and donated by Ravenel Custom Homes, John Wieland Homes, Max Crosby Construction, and the Daniel Island Architectural Review Board.

"Park Day is such a great opportunity to meet other residents and neighbors," said Orvin, who also serves as Building Program Manager for the Daniel Island Real Estate Company. "It’s also a great benefit to our Island in terms of bringing people in."

All proceeds from the raffle will benefit the East Cooper Habitat for Humanity (ECHH), something John Nuernberger couldn’t be happier about. As a Daniel Island resident and President of the ECHH Board of Directors, John is proud to be a part of the Park Day team.

"We are so fortunate to live here on Daniel Island in such a wonderful paradise," explained John Nuernberger. "We could certainly close our eyes to those in need, but thankfully this is not a community that wants to do that."

Nuernberger said this is the first time the "Playhouse Raffle" will benefit Habitat for Humanity, an organization that has been in operation locally for 15 years. Since its inception, Habitat has constructed more than 35 houses in the East Cooper area. Next on the list, adds Nuernberger, is to begin building homes near Daniel Island on the Cainhoy Peninsula.

"We’ve had great support on Daniel Island for Habitat," says Nuernberger. "Fortunately, there are many people here who see it as a very worthwhile endeavor."

According to Orvin, a new dog house, built by Hidden Oaks Properties, will also be raffled off. The custom canine creation will undoubtedly be "the envy of every neighborhood dog," say Park Day organizers, with proceeds benefiting the John Ancrum SPCA and Doc Williams SPCA.

Overall, there are more than 18 charities and non-profit organizations that will benefit from the Park Day festivities this year. Cainhoy Elementary and Middle Schools, the Lowcountry Food Bank, the South Carolina Shrimpers Association, Christmas Commandos, and Operation Home are just a few of those on the list. Organizers say they hope the philanthropic spirit of Park Day continues long after it’s over.

"I am a Mom and would love for my kids to become more community-oriented at a young age and learn to help those less fortunate," said Carrigan. "Not only does Park Day raise money for charities, but it also provides a way to match talents with the organizations that need them."

After months of planning and preparation, the "curtain" will go up on Park Day this Saturday, revealing all that little Asa Perryman and her friends are hoping for. A romp in a jump castle. Face painting. Pumpkin decorating. Dancing to steel drum music. And more. For a day, Daniel Island residents can join in as their neighborhoods are transformed into the perfect combination of old-fashioned fun and philanthropy.

Like the old saying goes, "there’s no place like home."