Northern Chautauqua Catholic School has received a grant to help with an outdoor recreation area.

Northern Chautauqua Catholic School, a private educational institution in Dunkirk, is pleased to announce the Garman Family Foundation has approved a $25,000 grant to support NCCS’ Outdoor Recreation Area Improvement Project.

The Garman Family Foundation is committed to helping organizations that address mental health, physical wellness, and education of individuals with a preference for women and children. The Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo is administering the awarded grants.

NCCS plans to use this generous grant to help update the school’s playground and surrounding recreation facilities, including creating a safer outdoor environment for students and teachers, improving fencing/physical boundaries for safer gym classes and recess, removing barriers to outdoor exploration, creativity, and recreation and developing an outdoor learning space.

Phase I of the playground project was completed in October 2021 and included the removal of aging playground equipment and the pea gravel playground surface.

New equipment, including a teeter totter and new spring riders, were installed, and the pea gravel was replaced with a poured rubber fall-safe surface. With the help of the Garman Family Foundation and NCCS’ Angel Campaign, Phase II is already underway, with the removal of several damaged trees and stone wall barrier.

“Funding and donations such as these provide our children with so many quality learning opportunities that will help NCCS students grow in mind, body and spirit,” says Principal Andrew Ludwig.

For more information about the Garman Family Foundation, the Annual Angel Campaign and other ways to support NCCS, please email Advancement Leader Melissa Zakrajsek at ncc–advancement@nccschool.us.