Members of the Corvettes of Lake and Mendocino Counties gather with the Lake Family Resource Center Board of Directors and Executive Director Gloria Flaherty (center, holding check) on Thursday, September 29, 2011. Photo by John Yde.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Thanks to the generosity of local Corvette enthusiasts, children at Lake County's domestic violence shelter will have a place to play.

On Thursday, Sept. 29, members of the Corvettes of Lake and Mendocino Counties presented a check for $3,000 to Lake Family Resource Center Executive Director Gloria Flaherty.

The gift will help build a new playground for children at Freedom House.

The donation was a surprise for Flaherty, who had been in an orientation meeting for new board members at Lake Family Resource Center's business office, located at 5350 Main St. in Kelseyville, on the same property as the shelter.

Flaherty was asked to step out into the parking lot, where several newer Corvettes, as well as a vintage Corvette owned by John Yde, were parked.

Members of the club then presented Flaherty with the check for $3,000 to support her plans for the playground.

Flaherty, who was caught off guard by the gift, was brought to tears.

“I'm so excited,” she said.

A playground for Freedom House's children had been at the top of Flaherty's wish list. She said children who are housed at the shelter haven't had a place to go outside and play.

Before the Corvette club's donation, she had begun exploring grants and funding to make it happen. The total estimated cost is $7,500, and the $3,000 gift will lay the groundwork for raising the remainder of the playground funds through matching grants and other donations.

Corvette club members noted that supporting the playground was a natural fit for them, as they're all kids at heart.

This isn't the first sizable donation from the club to Lake Family Resource Center.

In June 2010, the club gave a $3,000 gift to the Barbara LaForge Memorial Fund, which supports Freedom House, as Lake County News has reported.

Support from groups like the Corvette club are integral to fulfilling Lake Family Resource Center's mission of offering support to those in need, according to Flaherty.

“We live and die on our relationships in the community,” she said.

Community members can make tax-deductible donations to support the playground project. Donations can be sent to Lake Family Resource Center at 5350 Main St., Kelseyville, 95451.

For more information call 888-775-8336 or visit www.lakefrc.com.

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