Oakland-Craig Inclusive Playground

10/16/2026

We are so grateful to Tyler and Elyce Peterson for their generous $500 donation to the Oakland-Craig Inclusive Playground! Your gift is helping create a space where all children can play, connect, and feel included alongside their peers.

Tyler, a rig welder and contractor, and Elyce, a librarian at Oakland-Craig School, give so much more than a financial contribution. They generously share their time, talents, and hearts with our school and community. Through faith formation, fundraising efforts, support of extracurricular activities, and a commitment to instilling the importance of reading, they help our youth build a strong foundation for lifelong learning.

You can often find the Petersons in the concession stand, in the bleachers, on the sideline, or taking admission—doing whatever is needed to help school functions and organizations succeed. Their willingness to volunteer and serve is a wonderful example of what it means to invest in our children.

We are especially excited that their children, Barrett and Hagen, who attend Oakland-Craig Elementary, will get to enjoy this new playground alongside their peers. What a special way for their family to be part of creating something that will benefit so many children for years to come!

Thank you, Tyler and Elyce, for your generosity, your service, and the lasting impact you are making in the lives of our youth. We appreciate you more than words can say!

If you wish to make a tax-deductible donation to the Oakland-Craig Inclusive Playground, checks can be made payable to Oakland-Craig Public Schools Foundation with “OC Inclusive Playground” noted in the memo.

10/15/2026

10/14/2026

We are so thankful for the continued generosity of our anonymous donors! Four more donors recently contributed a combined $820 to support the Oakland-Craig Inclusive Playground.

So far, 167 donors have contributed to this special project through local businesses, individuals, grants, and heartfelt memorial gifts honoring people who have made a lasting impact on our community. This total also includes a memorial made in honor of Jeri Baker, whose memory is being honored through this meaningful effort.

The incredible support we’ve received shows just how much inclusion matters to our community. Every contribution, big or small, helps bring us closer to creating an inclusive playground where everyone can play and feel welcome.

We are grateful for every supporter, including those who prefer to give anonymously. Thank you to everyone who has helped make this vision possible!

If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation to the Oakland-Craig Inclusive Playground, checks can be made payable to Oakland-Craig Public Schools Foundation with “OC Inclusive Playground” in the memo.

09/17/2026

We are incredibly grateful to the Burt County Co-Ed Sand Volleyball League for their generous $500 donation toward the Oakland-Craig Inclusive Playground!

This league is organized and successfully run each year by Josh Wilson and Dane Eisenmenger, alongside their wives, Amanda and Kayla. They know many have contributed and been involved each year and that it can’t run successfully without those people’s willingness! Together, they bring so much life, recreation, and connection to our community on summer Sunday afternoons and evenings.

Countless hours go into making this league happen — prepping, planning, organizing, executing, and, of course, playing! But anyone who has spent a Sunday evening at the courts knows that this league is about so much more than recreational volleyball.

It’s about people/family. It’s about getting outside, catching up with friends, sharing a meal, grilling and picnicking, and giving everyone a chance to slow down before another busy week begins. The sidelines are filled with kiddos laughing (and sometimes crying 😉), families spending time together, and former high school classmates reminiscing. It’s a place where friendships are strengthened, memories are made, and community happens naturally.

The Burt County Co-Ed Sand Volleyball League has already created a space where people feel connected and welcome. And now, through their donation, they are helping make sure that same sense of belonging and togetherness can be experienced by everyone.

Their $500 gift to the Oakland-Craig Inclusive Playground means more opportunities for families, kiddos, and community members of all abilities to play, gather, and be part of something — without barriers or exclusion.

This league has brought so much to our community already. Now, they are bringing even more inclusion.

They get it.

Thank you, Josh, Dane, Amanda, Kayla, and everyone who makes the Burt County Co-Ed Sand Volleyball League what it is. Thank you for investing not only in a playground, but in the idea that everyone deserves a place to belong.

If you wish to make a tax-deductible donation to the Oakland-Craig Inclusive Playground, checks can be made payable to Oakland-Craig Public Schools Foundation with “OC Inclusive Playground” noted in the memo.

09/16/2026

We are incredibly grateful to Clint and Brooke Peterson for their generous $1,000 donation to the Oakland-Craig Inclusive Playground Project!

Clint and Brooke are both proud graduates of Oakland-Craig Public Schools and lifelong Knights supporters who continue to show their love for their school and community in all that they do. Their four children, Paisley, Hadley, Eli, and Leo, attend Oakland-Craig and are active in every facet of school and community life.

Clint and Brooke truly embody what it means to be leaders, helpers, and pillars of our small towns. They are always among the first to lend a helping hand and have dedicated countless hours to serving their school, church, and community.

Clint has served on the Oakland Revitalization Committee, Oakland Golf Club Board, Craig Presbyterian Church Board, and Oakland-Craig School Foundation, along with many other community efforts.

Brooke’s commitment to our school and community is equally remarkable. She currently serves as President of the Craig Community Foundation and Oakland-Craig PTO, is a member of the Oakland Women’s Club and Burt County 4-H Council, and serves as Sunday School Superintendent at Craig Presbyterian Church. She has also previously served as O-C Sports Booster Chair, among her many other commitments and volunteer efforts.

But beyond the boards, committees, and organizations, Clint and Brooke are simply people with hearts of gold for kids and their communities. They consistently invest their time, talents, and resources to make Oakland and Craig better places for everyone.

Their support of the Inclusive Playground Project is another wonderful example of their belief that everyone should be included, celebrated, and given the opportunity to play, connect, and do the things they love.

Thank you, Clint and Brooke, for leading by example and for investing in a project that will create a place where all Knights can belong. We are so thankful for your generosity and continued support of Oakland-Craig!

If you wish to make a tax-deductible donation to the Oakland-Craig Inclusive Playground, checks can be made payable to Oakland-Craig Public Schools Foundation with “OC Inclusive Playground” noted in the memo.

09/15/2026

We are incredibly grateful to Merle Hultman for his generous $500 donation to the Oakland-Craig Inclusive Playground in loving memory of his wife, Violet. While others have generously donated in Violet’s name, this gift feels incredibly special because it gives us the opportunity to recognize Merle and Violet together—just as they were for so many years.

The town of Oakland and our surrounding communities have been blessed with many wonderful years of “Violet’s” daycare, but the truth is, it was never a day at Violet’s without her sidekick, Merle.

Violet welcomed our sweet new babies and our energetic school-aged children, and so did Merle. Violet found adventure in adding to her toy collection, and so did Merle. Violet curated the kind of giggles and belly laughs that echoed through their home, and so did Merle. Together, they played taxi service, bringing kids safely to school drop-off and back home at pickup. The number of miles they traveled transporting kiddos probably rivals the number of candy bars and toothbrushes they handed out every Halloween. Violet loved to treat, and so did Merle.

Violet loved caring for our kiddos, and so did Merle—and he still does. That may be one of the most beautiful parts of this gift. While we have the opportunity to honor Violet’s legacy through this playground, even more amazing is seeing Merle carry that legacy forward by continuing to welcome their daycare kiddos and making sure they remain cared for, loved, and cherished just the way Violet would want.

We’ve said before that honoring Violet through a gift to the Oakland-Craig Inclusive Playground is so fitting because we truly hope the joy she found, the joy she brought, and the joy that arose in all of us and our kiddos because of her is matched two-fold as children explore, play, laugh, and make memories in this space.

Two-fold—because when Violet’s legacy brings joy, so does Merle’s.

Merle, thank you for your generosity, for your continued love for our children, and for carrying a beautiful piece of Violet with you every day. This gift honors her, celebrates you both, and will help create joyful memories for generations of children to come.

We are so grateful for you. And we are so grateful for the love that Merle and Violet have poured into our community for so many years.

If you wish to make a tax-deductible donation to the Oakland-Craig Inclusive Playground, checks can be made payable to Oakland-Craig Public Schools Foundation with “OC Inclusive Playground” noted in the memo.

09/07/2026

A heartfelt thank you to Mike and Barb Wegner for their generous $250 donation to the Oakland-Craig Inclusive Playground, given in memory of two very special members of their family: Mike’s mother, Lois “Rooth” Wegner, and Mike’s uncle, Staff Sergeant Charles Rooth.

This gift carries a particularly meaningful connection to the Oakland community and to a family legacy of service and sacrifice. Lois was a 1949 Oakland High School graduate, and Charles followed shortly after, graduating with the Class of 1955.

Charles Rooth went on to serve his country courageously in Vietnam after graduation. During combat, he displayed extraordinary courage while leading his men.

According to an article shared by Mike recounting Charles’ service, he “ran through intense hostile fire, reorganized elements of his platoon, and directed effective fire on Viet Cong positions.” He raced up and down the assault line while under fire, encouraging his men and helping break the enemy resistance.

Staff Sgt. Charles Rooth was mortally wounded and died from those combat wounds, but his legacy lived on when his wife, Barbara, was presented the Silver Star for the gallantry Charles demonstrated in action. She also received the Purple Heart awarded posthumously to her husband.

The article recounting the Silver Star and Purple Heart award tells the story of a man who demonstrated extraordinary courage and selflessness in service to others. Today, Mike and Barb are carrying that spirit of service, sacrifice, and caring for others forward through their gift to an inclusive playground.

In doing so, they are not only honoring their own family history, but also the history and sacrifice of every individual and family named on the iconic veterans’ memorial that sits outside Oakland’s Veterans Building.

We are deeply grateful for this meaningful tribute to Lois “Rooth” Wegner and Staff Sgt. Charles Rooth.

Thank you, Mike and Barb, for honoring your family’s legacy in such a beautiful and meaningful way.

If you wish to make a tax-deductible donation to the Oakland-Craig Inclusive Playground, checks can be made payable to Oakland-Craig Public Schools Foundation with “OC Inclusive Playground” noted in the memo.

09/06/2026

We are so grateful to the Craig Community Club for their generous $500 donation to the Oakland-Craig Inclusive Playground!

The Craig Community Club has a long history of investing in the people who make this area special. Since becoming a community club in 1958, the organization has continued to be part of the fabric of the Craig community, including supporting local students through scholarships.

What makes their support even more meaningful is the small but mighty group behind it. With only around six members, the Craig Community Club is a very small organization — but their commitment to their community is anything but small. These members work incredibly hard to raise funds so they can continue supporting students, community projects, and initiatives that help move their communities forward. Their $500 donation to the Inclusive Playground represents not just a financial contribution, but hours of hard work, fundraising, and dedication from a handful of people who believe in giving back.

Their support of the Inclusive Playground is another wonderful example of what can happen when communities come together with a shared vision. This project may be located in Oakland, but its impact will reach far beyond Oakland. It will create a place where children and families from Craig and communities throughout Burt County can come together, play, connect, and make memories.

A project like this doesn’t happen because of one person, one organization, or one community. It happens because people recognize that when we work together, we can create something bigger than any one of us could accomplish alone. Every donation, every fundraiser, every volunteer hour, and every word of encouragement matters when working to see a project come to life — and the members of the Craig Community Club know this and live it.

We are incredibly thankful to the Craig Community Club for believing in this project and for working so hard to help make it possible. Your generosity is a reminder that you don’t have to be a large organization to make a big difference. Sometimes, a small group of dedicated people with a big heart for their community can have an incredible impact.

Thank you for helping us build something that will welcome all children and families for years to come. Your generosity is a beautiful example of the power of community — and of what is possible when Burt County comes together for its kids.

If you wish to make a tax-deductible donation to the Oakland-Craig Inclusive Playground, checks can be made payable to Oakland-Craig Public Schools Foundation with “OC Inclusive Playground” noted in the memo.

09/05/2026

We extend our deepest gratitude to Joe and Tammy Brehmer for their incredibly generous $1,000 donation in memory of two very special people—Kenneth “Kenny” Stromquist and their grandson Kendrix Brehmer.

Kenny believed in building connections and caring for those around him through his years of military service, owning Hilltop Service Station, driving school bus for Oakland-Craig, or supporting his community and local schools. He dedicated his life to serving others and believed in building connections by caring for those around him. He truly valued family, community, and friendships.

His great-grandson Kendrix and the grandson of Joe and Tammy brought joy to everyone he met. His contagious smile, vivid imagination, and enthusiasm for Paw Patrol and numbers reminded us of the simple magic found in childhood. He had a remarkable ability to brighten every room he entered and showed us that every child can experience the world in wonderfully unique ways.

Their stories beautifully reflect the mission of the Oakland-Craig Inclusive Playground.

An inclusive playground is more than swings and slides—it’s a place where every child belongs. It’s a barrier-free space designed so children of all abilities can explore, imagine, and grow together. Accessible play ensures that physical, sensory, and cognitive differences never stand in the way of laughter, friendship, or adventure.

Thank you, Joe and Tammy, for honoring Kenny and Kendrix in such a meaningful way. Their legacy will live on every time a child discovers a new adventure, makes a new friend, or experiences the freedom and joy of truly inclusive play.

If you wish to make a tax-deductible donation to the Oakland-Craig Inclusive Playground, checks can be made payable to Oakland-Craig Public Schools Foundation with “OC Inclusive Playground” noted in the memo.

09/04/2026

We are sending a big thank you to Austin and Nicole Parcel for their generous $1,000 donation to the Oakland-Craig Inclusive Playground!

If there is one thing that stands out about Austin and Nicole, it’s the way they continually give their time, energy, and effort to make our community stronger. They don’t just support our community from the sidelines — they jump in and help make things happen. From taking charge of managing the Youth Ball Association concession stand to being among the first to volunteer, donate, or lend a hand at fundraisers and community events, they are always there, helping to ensure each event is a success.

As parents raising two daughters in the Oakland-Craig School District, they are active supporters of activities at every level. They cheer on the younger kids and their activities, and you can count on seeing them in the crowd supporting our high school students, too — celebrating their accomplishments in every realm.

Their generosity extends far beyond organized activities. They are the kind of neighbors who are quick to lend a helping hand, whether they know you well or have never met you before. That spirit of service, kindness, and looking out for others is exactly what makes a community special.

And that is why their support of the Oakland-Craig Inclusive Playground means so much to us. This playground is about welcoming strangers and friends alike to a space where barriers are broken down and friendships are built up. Austin and Nicole have helped create those kinds of connections throughout our community, and now their generosity is helping create a space where others not only have the opportunity to do the same, but are encouraged to do so — a space where the values of service, generosity, and taking care of one another can continue for generations to come.

Thank you, Austin & Nicole, for always showing up, always pitching in, and for helping us bring inclusivity to the Oakland-Craig playground!

If you wish to make a tax-deductible donation to the Oakland-Craig Inclusive Playground, checks can be made payable to Oakland-Craig Public Schools Foundation with “OC Inclusive Playground” noted in the memo.