Five employees head to Mississippi to build a playground
Five Symetra employees traveled south in March 2006 to rebuild a playground for the Ocean Springs YMCA near Biloxi, Miss., a hurricane Katrina affected area. The playground is part of a new park, which bears the name Symetra-Blossman YMCA Park. The Symetra team worked side-by-side with Thomas Galione, a Symetra agent with FGK Financial in Brandon, Miss., his wife Chassidy and his partner Charles Bass. The group worked hard for nearly a week building paths, gardens and the largest play structure American All Fun has ever built in the state of Mississippi.
An estimated 250 members of the community — half of which were children — attended a dedication ceremony for the new Symetra-Blossman YMCA Park. According to Symetra volunteers, it was an extremely emotional ceremony. “It was unbelievable,” said one of the volunteers. “After the ribbon was cut by members of the city council, Thomas Galione, YMCA CEO David Harris and the YMCA’s biggest supporter and benefactor Mr. Blossman, more than a hundred children popped up from the sitting position and dashed toward the play structure. All of us watched with huge smiles, and a few tears, on our faces. I’m just proud that we did this project in Mississippi. It felt so good when the children came together on the playground and nature trails that we helped create.”
“Here’s a project where we aren’t rebuilding just one person’s house,” said Galione, “This is something for the people who are staying and the new people who will come. We can welcome them with open arms and say, ‘Look, this is what happens when companies and communities pull together. We can rebuild something good that lasts.’”
Follow this link (video) for some personal insights into the project from some members of the team.