Falls High School will participate in a contest to see which grade can raise the most money for the program. The money will be used to purchase playground equipment.
Pennies for Play, an initiative to raise money for playground equipment and raise the attention of the Minnesota Vikings, will begin Jan. 13.
The Journal’s initiative will launch in conjunction with Icebox Days, with a 3:30 p.m. kickoff event at The Journal offices Thursday.
Following the kick-off, collection cans will be placed at about a dozen supporting businesses around town, as well as at Falls schools.
Falls High School grades seven through 12 will participate in a contest to see which grade can raise the most money for the program, with prizes likely at the end of the contest.
Pennies for Play is being held in conjunction with the Hibbing Area Chamber of Commerce. Each city will compete in a friendly competition to see which can raise the most money for the cause. However, money raised in each city will remain in that city.
The communities of International Falls and Hibbing are joining together to invite the Minnesota Vikings to visit both cities on a one-day, two-city tour in the spring.
The city of International Falls recently backed the event, and it is being held with the support of the local chamber of commerce and business community.
Robin Bjorkquist, who is spearheading the contest and a long-time Minnesota Vikings fan, said that the focus of Pennies for Play is on the local community and refurbishing Kerry Park. But a visit from members of her favorite team would be icing on the cake for a win-win event.
“I think our community wins whether the Vikings are able to come or not,” she said.
“I do believe in my community, and my beloved Minnesota Vikings,” Bjorkquist said.
Bjorkquist has attended Vikings training camp for The Journal for several years, and has tried to make a connection between the team and Borderland.
“My goal is to promote this community to the Vikings, and the Vikings to this community,” Bjorkquist said. She added that there are a lot of Vikings fans in International Falls, and team members are not often able to make official visits to cities this far away from Minneapolis-St. Paul.
“If we do get a visit, we’ll be very fortunate,” Bjorkquist said, noting Vikings staff get hundreds of requests for appearances each week. “I figured they needed a good reason to come.”
When asked who she would most like to represent the Vikings should they come to International Falls, she listed a few of her favorite interviews from the past, but ultimately would have a hard time deciding on who she would like to see visit.
“I don’t know if I could pick, I’d take any of them,” she said.
The Vikings take part in the NFL Play 60 initiative, a national youth health and fitness campaign focused on increasing the wellness of young fans by encouraging them to be active for at least 60 minutes a day. The mission of Pennies for Play fits with that theme of promoting childhood outdoor activity.
Pennies for Play will run until either the Minnesota Vikings come to International Falls or the end of the school year in June.
Bjorkquist’s goal is to raise a total of $17,000 to replace a playground structure at Kerry Park that has a missing tunnel. Bjorkquist has been in contact with GameTime, an organization that provides matching-dollar grants to purchase playground equipment. If the Falls should raise enough money for a new playground set, GameTime would match dollar-for-dollar what is raised to purchase a set from their catalog — meaning a $15,000 community investment could turn into a $30,000 playground.
Collection receptacles will be placed throughout the community for donations starting next Friday. If contributors wish to write a check, make it out to the United Way - Pennies for Play. Checks can be sent to United Way, c/o Bremer Bank, P.O. Box 511, International Falls, MN 56649.
For more information on Pennies for Play, call Bjorkquist at 285-7411. To track progress, see a complete list of collection points and for more information on Pennies for Play, visit www.ifallsnet.com/pennies.htm.
