Parents donate playground and equipment to nonprofit preschool

A nonprofit preschool and daycare in Leesburg is having an extra thankful Thanksgiving after two parents won funding for and installed more than $2,000 of new playground, sensory play, and classroom equipment.

Students at Open Door Learning Center preschool and daycare now have a refreshed sensory play area, a refreshed outdoor playground and new classroom materials thanks to one student’s parents, Sir and Janae Wheeler.

The Wheelers said they found a safe haven for their son at ODLC because of the loving and patient environment created by the staff and directors. Their son, like other students, has sensory sensitivities, and they know the value of the right types of toys and play mechanisms. They said they noticed a need for new toys and equipment for the playground and sensory play room.

“This project was so important to us because of the amazing resources that ODLC and The Arc of Loudoun are to the community,” Janae said. “ODLC has given our son a chance to thrive and learn. He finally feels accepted and cared for by his teachers. He lights up when he comes into the building and comes home talking about his day. He has even independently started calling his teacher Aunt Von. When your child feels so close to his teacher that he has adopted her as family—you know you have found more than a great school; you have found home!”

Open Door Learning Center in Leesburg serves children with and without disabilities, learning alongside and from one another. The school offers financial aid as a state Childcare Subsidy Program vendor and through The Arc of Loudoun’s Bridge the Gap scholarship fund, as well as access to wraparound services for families on the same campus, such as the Aurora Behavior Clinic and ALLY Advocacy Center.

As owners of VVS Events & Marketing, the Wheelers decided to leverage their relationships to source funding for their refresh project. In partnership with nonprofit Elev8 Today and Foresters Financial, they secured $2,200 in grant funding to refresh not only the sensory play equipment, but provide classroom resources like laminators, craft supplies, and educational toys.

“We are so thankful for our ODLC families!” Open Door Learning Center Director Rena Bates said. “Sir and Janae are so generous, and this project was such an amazing surprise. Not only are the new playground equipment and toys an instant hit with the students, but they really do help us support their needs and growth even better. This really is what our little preschool community is all about.”

To learn more about Open Door Learning Center at odlc.thearcofloudoun.org, and about VVS at vvsevents.com.