Play House Raffle to Benefit EPU Children’s Center

FRESNO – A special play house outside of Whole Foods Market Fresno has been getting a lot of attention from people passing by.

Those who are curious enough have even entered the store and learned that the play house will be raffled off at the end of August, with all of the proceeds from the $20 tickets sold at Whole Foods going to the Exceptional Parents Unlimited Children’s Center.  The play house was designed, built and donated by Fresno-based Monster City Studios, a company that produces foam themed environments and 3D signage, and then donated to the EPU Children’s Center.  It has been resting outside Whole Foods since the beginning of August, and will remain there until the raffle winner is announced on Aug. 31.

“Help like this from Monster City and from Whole Foods is so crucial and uniquely important to the EPU Children’s Center,” said Kathleen Price, development director for the center.

The EPU Children’s Center was founded in 1976 as a support group.  Over time, it has grown into a children’s campus that provides five different community programs for Fresno County children with disabilities and their families.  EPU’s staff of over 100 therapists and early childhood specialists offer physical, speech, and occupational therapies, and engage the children in therapeutic play.

“Our goal there is to provide them with the early skills so that they can live a life that is as full and as fulfilling as possible,” Price said.  “At the same time, we’re educating the parents how to take care of this child.”

Between 800-1,000 children and family members are seen weekly at the EPU Children’s Center.  Most of its funding comes directly from services it provides, so unrestricted funds, like those that will be coming in from the play house raffle, are vital to the organization’s success.

“When we have the ability to raise unrestricted funds, it allows us to plug in budget gaps where they are, and prevents us from having to reduce services to families,” Price said.

Richard Deaver. president of Monster City Studios, said even though the company’s primary business is theming for places like parks and zoos, it also creates objects such as the play houses.  This particular play house is known as a Storybook Play House, based on homes found in Carmel.  They start out as a wood structure covered with EPS foam, with a two-part polyurea hard coating that is durable and weatherproof.  Deaver estimates the cost of the play house to be from $5,000 – $7,000.

“I have a special fondness for kids, especially kids that are either abused or they’ve got some challenges to deal with,” Deaver said when asked why Monster City decided to donate the play house to the EPU Children’s Center.  “Those kind of tug on your heartstrings a little bit.”

Toni Marchini, marketing team leader at Whole Foods Market Fresno, said that when the EPU Children’s Center approached Whole Foods with the raffle idea, the store immediately wanted to be involved.  The original plan was to bring the play house and have it sit inside the store, but it was too large to fit through the doors.  Marchini said that as of Tuesday morning about 50 of the $20 raffle tickets had been sold.

“I think it’s going well, but of course we’re still striving to raise as much money as we can for EPU,” Marchini said.  “Our company’s core values really align with the mission and everything EPU stands for.”

Raffle tickets will be sold until the end of the month, and the winner of the play house will be announced on August 31.  To purchase raffle tickets, visit Whole Foods Market Fresno, located at 650 W. Shaw Ave. in Fresno’s Fig Garden Village.