Oakland-Craig Inclusive Playground

Oakland-Craig Inclusive Playground Fostering Play, Growth, and Connection for All Abilities

A heartfelt thank you to Pediatric Partners for their generous $100 donation to the Oakland-Craig Inclusive Playground!T...
08/28/2026

A heartfelt thank you to Pediatric Partners for their generous $100 donation to the Oakland-Craig Inclusive Playground!
This gift feels especially meaningful because it comes from a team that has made caring for children—and partnering with their families—a cornerstone of what they do.

And so many of our Oakland-Craig children are loved and cared for by this incredible team. From the front door, through the halls, into the treatment rooms, and all the way out the door again, the care is truly second to none.
Their donation says something powerful: they care about the whole child and the whole childhood.

They are looking for ways to ensure their littlest friends have every opportunity to grow, tackle milestones, discover their abilities, build confidence, make friends, and experience every bit of joy childhood has to offer. That fits beautifully with the mission of an inclusive playground—creating a place where every child has the opportunity to simply be a kid.

And Pediatric Partners’ care doesn’t stop at their doors—or even at the city limits. They have become woven into the fabric of families throughout the Oakland-Craig community and beyond. They celebrate our babies, worry with us when they’re sick, cheer us through milestones, answer our questions, and help us navigate the many stages of raising children.

And it wouldn’t be right to recognize Pediatric Partners without recognizing two of our own who are such an important part of that wonderful care: Diane Pelan-Johnson and Rose Dahlgren. We are incredibly fortunate to have their knowledge, compassion, and dedication reaching so many children and families in our communities.

Thank you, Pediatric Partners, for investing in our children in one more meaningful way. Your donation will help build a place where children can play, grow, explore, connect, and belong—and we can’t think of a better mission for a pediatric practice to support.

We are incredibly grateful to Mieth Management, LLC for their generous $1,000 donation toward the Oakland-Craig Inclusiv...
08/27/2026

We are incredibly grateful to Mieth Management, LLC for their generous $1,000 donation toward the Oakland-Craig Inclusive Playground!

Mieth Management is operated by Dylan Mieth, who, together with his wife, Ashlie is raising their son and daughter right here in Oakland. Their family — and the life they have brought back into our community — is something we are truly lucky to have. We are so grateful that they now call Oakland home again.

Dylan oversees so many projects and spends his days helping bring big ideas from plans to reality. His experience in the construction and project world includes work on several local and regional projects, making it especially meaningful to have Mieth Management help fund a project that will literally help build a more welcoming place for our own families in our community.

This playground coming to life brings an opportunity to create a space where children of all abilities can enjoy time together, families can connect, and every member of our community feels welcomed, included, and valued. For the Mieth’s to value that idea proves their dedication to this project’s success.

Thank you, Dylan, Ashlie, and Mieth Management, for investing in Oakland and helping us make this vision a reality. Your gift is another important step toward creating a playground that welcomes everyone.

We are so fortunate to have families and businesses like yours helping make our community a better place.

Thank you for helping us build a more inclusive Oakland!

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.

There are truly no words big enough to express our gratitude for the continued generosity surrounding the Oakland-Craig ...
08/26/2026

There are truly no words big enough to express our gratitude for the continued generosity surrounding the Oakland-Craig Inclusive Playground.

Recently, 8 additional donors gave a combined $3,930 to help bring this vision to life, with a portion of those gifts made in memory of Heidi Holm. We are deeply touched by every one of these contributions and by the love and meaning behind them.

With these newest gifts, 154 donors have now supported the playground through businesses, individuals, grants, memorial gifts, and generous donations from people who simply believe in the importance of creating a place where every child can play, belong, and be included.

We especially want to recognize our anonymous donors. While all may not know your names or have the opportunity to thank you personally, please know that your generosity is no less appreciated. We are incredibly grateful for those who choose to give quietly and without recognition. Your gifts are making a meaningful difference, and your support is helping move this dream forward.

To every donor, every supporter, and those who give anonymously and quietly: thank you for believing in this vision and helping make it possible. We are so grateful to have you alongside us.

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.

We are incredibly grateful to Darrell and Cheryl Denker for their generous $200 donation to the Oakland-Craig Inclusive ...
08/25/2026

We are incredibly grateful to Darrell and Cheryl Denker for their generous $200 donation to the Oakland-Craig Inclusive Playground! Your support in honor of your children—Amy Rost, Brad Denker, and Andy Denker—and grandchildren— Preston Rost, Sabrina Rost, and Celeste Rost—who have attended or are currently attending Oakland-Craig means so much to our school and community.

The Denkers have been dedicated supporters of Oakland-Craig for generations. Darrell served on the Oakland-Craig school board, and together, Darrell and Cheryl have remained deeply involved in our community. Their children attended OC, and now their grandchildren are proudly attending OC as well!

They can be found cheering on their grandchildren at activities and events, supporting our students and school every step of the way. Over the years, they have had the privilege of watching generations of Oakland-Craig students and families grow, learn, thrive, and become an important part of our community. They have cheered on each generation with the same enthusiasm—first as parents, now alongside other grandparents—and their dedication never wavers.

Darrell and Cheryl fully endorse the new Inclusive Playground equipment and encourage others to join them in supporting this exciting project. Their generosity is a wonderful example of what makes our Oakland-Craig community so special: generations of people investing in the children and families who will carry our community forward.

Thank you, Darrell and Cheryl, for your incredible support, your many years of service, and for always cheering on our OC kids! We are so grateful!

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.

A heartfelt thank you to the Oakland-Craig High School Class of 1996 for your generous $250 donation to the Oakland-Crai...
08/24/2026

A heartfelt thank you to the Oakland-Craig High School Class of 1996 for your generous $250 donation to the Oakland-Craig Inclusive Playground, made in memory of two of your classmates, Jason Keogh and Greg Loftis.

One of the neatest things about growing up—and choosing to live—in a small community is that you know your classmates in a way that goes far beyond the classroom. You grow up together. You make memories together—at school, on the weekends, on the field, at the ballpark, and in all those ordinary moments that somehow become the stories you carry with you forever. And even after you move the tassel from one side of your graduation cap to the other, those connections don’t simply disappear. You continue to care about one another, to celebrate one another, and to remember those who are no longer here to reminisce with you.

That is what makes this gift so meaningful.

Jason returned home to help on the family farm, where his life revolved around family, hard work and helping wherever he was needed. He was a true jack-of-all-trades, but perhaps most fitting for this gift, he loved coaching his sons’ youth sports teams. His story was rooted in family, community and giving the next generation opportunities to learn, play and grow.

Greg, too, carried the spirit of Oakland-Craig with him. He grew up on his family’s farm between Oakland and Craig and filled his school years with football, wrestling, track, baseball and countless memories alongside his classmates. His accomplishments on the field were notable, but even more remarkable, Greg collected friends easily and extended his heart to anyone he thought he could help.

So, a gift to an inclusive playground in their memory feels especially fitting. Because this playground is about feeling included; belonging. It’s about making sure every classmate and friend gets the chance to be part of the memories to be talked about at every class reunion to come.

The Class of 1996 understands something special about small towns: we don’t simply leave our alma mater behind when we graduate. We take pride in it. We give back to it. We want our children—and our friends’ children—to have the same opportunities we had. And we remember the people who helped make growing up here everything it should be, everything we hoped it would be.

Jason and Greg were part of that story and now, they will be part of many more.

Thank you, Class of 1996, for giving us another reason to celebrate Jason and Greg, for honoring the memories you made together, and for allowing the Oakland-Craig Inclusive Playground to become the newest piece of an already impactful legacy.

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.

A heartfelt thank you to an anonymous donor for their generous donation to the Oakland-Craig Inclusive Playground in mem...
08/23/2026

A heartfelt thank you to an anonymous donor for their generous donation to the Oakland-Craig Inclusive Playground in memory of Violet Hultman.

This memorial gift feels especially fitting because Violet spent so much of her life creating a place where children could play, explore, learn, interact, and simply enjoy being kids. For decades, she opened her home and her heart as a daycare provider, helping raise many of the children in our community.

But Violet’s influence didn’t end when a child outgrew her daycare. She continued to cheer them on—celebrating their accomplishments in school, extracurricular activities, and life. She became an extension of so many families, especially as young couples learned the joys and challenges of becoming Mom and Dad.

Violet understood something that this playground represents so beautifully: time spent playing is time well spent. And perhaps one of the most fitting ways to honor her life is to create a space where all children can experience that same joy of play, exploration, friendship, and belonging.

We hope that someday, the giggles heard from the Oakland-Craig Inclusive Playground will be the giggles of Violet’s daycare backyard multiplied—children running, discovering, imagining, making friends, and creating memories together.
What a beautiful way to carry her spirit forward.

Thank you to our anonymous donor for helping make that possible and for choosing to remember Violet in such a meaningful way.

Violet’s legacy was measured in children she loved, encouraged, and helped grow. May this playground continue that legacy for generations to come.

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.

The Oakland-Craig Inclusive Playground Committee would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Northeast Eye Care and Dr....
08/22/2026

The Oakland-Craig Inclusive Playground Committee would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Northeast Eye Care and Dr. Brandon Ridder for their incredibly generous $1,000 donation to the Oakland-Craig Inclusive Playground project!

For decades, Northeast Eye Care has been dedicated to serving families across northeast Nebraska with compassionate, high-quality vision care. With clinic locations in West Point, Oakland, and Pender, their commitment to accessibility ensures that even rural Nebraska communities have access to exceptional eye care close to home. Their mission centers on helping patients “see the world with clarity and confidence,” while delivering personalized, high-quality care that puts patients and families first.

That commitment to improving quality of life aligns perfectly with the vision behind the Oakland-Craig Inclusive Playground. Just as Northeast Eye Care works to ensure people of all ages can see clearly and live fully, this playground is being built to ensure every child—of every ability—can fully engage in recreation, connecting with friends and gaining a sense of belonging.

Since 1951, Northeast Eye Care has proudly served the region with advanced technology, personalized treatment, and compassionate care tailored to each patient’s needs. Their continued growth and multiple locations demonstrate a deep commitment to meeting the needs of the communities they serve.

Beyond providing excellent care, Northeast Eye Care is also known throughout the area for being quick to step up in support of local fundraisers, youth activities, school programs, and community events. Whether sponsoring a team, supporting an event, or helping a cause move forward, they consistently invest back into the communities that support them.

Your generosity helps bring us one step closer to creating a space where all children can play side-by-side, building friendships, confidence, and lifelong memories.

Thank you, Northeast Eye Care, for helping us bring this vision to life and for all you do to support the communities of northeast Nebraska.

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.

A heartfelt thank you to Bruce and Carla Mieth for their incredibly generous $1,000 donation to the Oakland-Craig Inclus...
08/21/2026

A heartfelt thank you to Bruce and Carla Mieth for their incredibly generous $1,000 donation to the Oakland-Craig Inclusive Playground in honor of their grandchildren, Everett and Sandra Mieth!

What a beautiful gift—not only to Everett and Sandra, but to their entire family and to every child and family who will someday experience this playground.

Because of their generosity, Everett and Sandra will have a place to play, explore, grow, and make memories with their family. Their friends will have that same opportunity. And so will children from neighboring communities, families passing through, and visitors from places far beyond Oakland-Craig.

This playground will be a place where children can explore what childhood has to offer while celebrating differences, embracing one another, and experiencing the power of inclusivity.

Bruce and Carla, thank you for giving your grandchildren a place to grow—and for choosing to make that opportunity bigger than just your own family. Your gift helps ensure that every child, regardless of ability, has a place to play, belong, discover, and make joyful childhood memories.

We are so grateful that Everett and Sandra’s names will be part of a legacy that reaches far beyond them—a legacy of play, inclusion, family, and opportunity for all.

Thank you for helping us build a playground where there truly is a place for every child.

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.

There is something truly special about a small town where neighbors come together to make a difference. Today, we are in...
08/20/2026

There is something truly special about a small town where neighbors come together to make a difference. Today, we are incredibly grateful to the Oakland Women’s Club for their generous $1,000 donation to the Oakland-Craig Inclusive Playground.

For many years, the Oakland Women’s Club has quietly and faithfully invested in our community through service, volunteerism, and projects that make Oakland an even better place to live and raise a family. Their dedication to helping others and strengthening our hometown is an inspiration to us all.

The mission of the Oakland Women’s Club is simple but meaningful: to help improve the community we live in. Through their service and involvement, club members continue to find ways to make a positive difference right here at home.

That same spirit is at the heart of the Oakland-Craig Inclusive Playground. Our vision is to create a place where every child—regardless of ability—has the opportunity to play, laugh, learn, and make lifelong memories together. It’s about creating a welcoming space where families gather, friendships grow, and everyone feels they belong.

The missions of the Oakland Women’s Club and our playground project are rooted in the same belief: when we invest in people and in our community, everyone benefits.

And if you’ve ever thought about getting involved, all area women are welcome to join the Oakland Women’s Club! OWC always welcomes new members who want to meet others, serve their community, and be part of making our hometown an even better place to live.

Thank you, Oakland Women’s Club, for believing in this dream and for helping make it a reality. Your generosity is an investment in our children, our families, and the future of Oakland-Craig. We are honored to have your support and thankful for the women who continue to give their time and talents to make our community stronger.

Together, we’re building a legacy of inclusion, kindness, service, and community.

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.

🎉 Exciting news! The Oakland-Craig Inclusive Playground equipment has officially been ordered! 🎉This is a huge milestone...
08/19/2026

🎉 Exciting news! The Oakland-Craig Inclusive Playground equipment has officially been ordered! 🎉

This is a huge milestone, and we couldn’t be more excited to see our dream becoming a reality!

But we still need your help to reach our fundraising goal. The generous donor-match campaign sponsored by Omani and Jeanie Carson is still going strong, with a match cap of $9,500!

Celebrate this milestone by becoming a donor! Your gift can go twice as far while helping us bring an inclusive playground to our community.

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Oakland, NE
68045

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