Insurance Companies Save Wyandotte's Summer Playground Program

Wyandotte children will have free summer activities this year through the city's , thanks to the generosity of four insurance companies.

The program was set to be cut from the budget, which didn't set well with Doug Ochmanek, president and CEO of .

"I saw on the Wyandotte Patch that it was going to be eliminated back in the fall," he said. "I'm a lifelong Wyandotte resident and participated in Green Box as a kid. ... I just thought it was an opportunity for us as an agency to give back."

After making some calls, Ochmanek got other insurance companies on board and together, raised the $10,000 to keep the program going.

"It's nice to know kids have a safe place to go," he said. "It gives them a reason to get out of the house. It’s nice that we can continue to keep it going."

The program employs part-time workers who supervise children during a free, six-week summer event series that features The children also get to go on a number of field trips each summer.

The program was in four city parks last year. It's unknown how many parks it will be in this year.

Ochmanek said he remembers the fun times playing knock hockey and baseball as a child through the program at his tiny neighborhood park.

"It was a great gathering place for all the neighborhood kids," he said. "It was always packed. ... Without cell phones or anything, you knew you could always meet there."

The program originally was set to be eliminated last year, but city officials changed their mind after to council members asking that the program not be cut. The $10,000 was put back into the budget last year with the understanding that another funding option be found going forward.

David Jeffery, regional vice president of Howell-based Citizens Insurance Company, said his company was pleased to donate $5,000 toward the program. He and two other executives from his company drove down to Wyandotte on Monday to take part in the check presentation.

“This was an ideal opportunity for us to partner with our agents to support a program that is so near to their hearts and those of our policy holders and the community," Jeffery said. “The program aligns perfectly to our charitable focus on youth and education, so we did not hesitate to participate.”

Wyandotte's and also contributed.

Mayor Joseph Peterson thanked the four companies for allowing the summertime program to continue.

“The kids will be honored," he said. "Without you guys, we wouldn’t have the Green Box. ... I would like to say thank you to all of you.”

Recreation Superintendent James Knopp said the program also will be expanding this year and will now offer cold lunches every day to all of the children.