RE/MAX Alliance Donates $25,000 to the Jessica Ridgeway Legacy Foundation
On Monday, April 22nd, 2013, I had the pleasure of attending a very special event at our RE/MAX Alliance Westminster office where franchise owner, Chad Ochsner, presented the Jessica Ridgeway Legacy Foundation with a check for $25,000! The majority of the funds donated were raised by our own real estate professionals and members of the community. Through the joint efforts of our Westminster office, which is located about a mile from Jessica’s home, and our Arvada office, we were able to raise more than $12,000, which was then matched by our company head to equal our grand total. Unlike the rest of the Jessica Ridgeway story, this event marked a happy time where the little girl, who has touched so many people’s hearts, was remembered.
RE/MAX Alliance franchise owner, Chad Ochsner, presents check for $25,000 to the Jessica Ridgeway Westminster Legacy Foundation!At the check presentation several members of our community, including Nancy McNally, Mayor of Westminster, were present to show their support and appreciation for RE/MAX Alliance’s contribution. Don Tripp, the Director of Westminster’s Parks, Recreation and Libraries Department, lead the ceremony and told the story of how this tragedy unfolded. The Jessica Ridgeway Legacy Foundation was started because the support from the community called for a plan of action. During the search and after her remains were discovered, people from all over were looking for a way to show their love for the family and Jessica through donations. After receiving the blessing from the Ridgeway family, the City of Westminster has elected to rebuild and rename Chelsea Park, which was not only Jessica’s favorite neighborhood park, but was the place where she was headed the morning of her disappearance, to the Jessica Ridgeway Memorial Park.
The idea behind the revamping of this park and playground is to create a place where the lively spirit of this beautiful 10 year old girl can live on happily for eternity. The park is not to serve as a memorial to her death or the tragedy that tore through our community last October, but rather is to be a place where people can go to heal and remember Jessica for who she was.
Early this month work began on the park, which marks the start of the healing process for the entire community. The old playground equipment will be donated in Jessica’s honor to a program called Kids around the World, which is a nonprofit that refurbishes old playgrounds and re-installs them in developing nations. The new park will feature a purple and green theme that has been specifically designed based on the passions Jessica had during her life. The aim of the Westminster Legacy Foundation was to raise $500,000 to pay for the new park. With the donations from individual community members, as well as local businesses like RE/MAX Alliance, the Westminster’s park director reported they are within $25,000 to $50,000 of reaching their goal! If you are interested in learning how you can contribute to this cause, please visit the Westminster Legacy Foundation.
Community members in attendance at the Jessica Ridgeway Westminster Legacy Foundation and RE/MAX Alliance check presentation included:
- Mary Lindsey – City Councillor
- Bob Briggs – City Councillor
- Herb Atchison – City Councillor
- Nancy McNally – Mayor of Westminster
- Legacy Foundation Board of Director – Bill Walenczak
- Legacy Foundation Board of Director & RE/MAX Alliance Broker – Ed Getsch
- Legacy Foundation Co-Executive Director – Laura Magnetti
- Legacy Foundation Co-Executive Director – Karen Layfield
- Joe Reid – Public Information Officer