EIGHTY FOUR, Pa. (Sept. 20, 2019) – Earlier this week, the Mario Lemieux Foundation and Small Town Hope, Inc. opened the 37th Austin’s Playroom in Hastings, Pennsylvania. The playroom will offer various resources and activities for local children and families who are experiencing physical, social or emotional challenges. The 84 Lumber in Cresson, Pennsylvania, donated $25,000 in materials to the project.
“Austin’s Playrooms is a remarkable way to bring children and families together during difficult times,” said Maggie Hardy, president of 84 Lumber. “We were honored to make this donation and help the Mario Lemieux Foundation continue expanding this program.”
Austin’s Playrooms was established by former Pittsburgh Penguin Mario Lemieux and his wife Nathalie in honor of their son Austin. In 1996, Austin was born prematurely and spent 71 days in the neonatal intensive care unit. During that time, there was nothing to engage his young siblings. The Lemieuxs came up with the idea for a playroom and ultimately launched Austin’s Playrooms.
Designed by Nathalie Lemieux, each playroom features comfortable furnishings, games, toys, books, activities, and child-friendly artwork. They also contain a train table, wall-mounted games and a sand table.
The Hastings playroom is housed in Small Town Hope’s new “Treehouse” space, which offers a safe, relaxed place for children and families to connect. The organization’s mission is to build programs that “inspire, educate and strengthen” family dynamics.
“Having an Austin’s Playroom here will ensure that children and families have a bright and comfortable place to relax and play,” said Mandi Paronish, founder of Small Town Hope. “This addition will enable us to be a hub for children and families to spend quality time together, despite other circumstances they may be facing.”
84 Lumber’s sister company, Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, also had a role in the project. The Treehouse features a kitchen dedicated to Kristin Butterworth, executive chef at Lautrec, Nemacolin’s Forbes Five-Star, AAA Five-Diamond restaurant. Butterworth previously served on Small Town Hope’s board of directors.