Hepworth Home & School Association Hosting 'Play It Forward' School Playground Fundraiser
Play It Forward Dinner & Auction April 18 at Sauble Community Centre will raise funds to replace playground equipment at École Hepworth Central Public School.
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In October 2024, École Hepworth Central Public School was required to remove playground equipment due to safety concerns. This left the children with little to do during their outdoor breaks — an issue that affects not only physical activity, but social connection, creativity, and overall well-being.
In support of replacing the school’s playground structure, the Hepworth Home & School Association is hosting a community fundraising event — Play It Forward Dinner & Live Auction — with the goal of building a safe, engaging and accessible playground that will serve Hepworth students for years to come.
The Play It Forward event will take place on Saturday, April 18th, 2026 starting at 4:00PM at the Sauble Community Centre.
It is a volunteer-run evening, designed to bring our community together for locally-sourced and prepared food, cash bar, live musical entertainment, and a high-energy live and silent auction featuring themed baskets from each of the school’s classrooms, and items and services from local businesses.
The event is 19+ and anyone is welcome to attend. Tickets to the event are on sale now via Zeffy for $40 per person or $300 for a full table of eight.
Donations will play an important role in the success of the event. Our MC, Bill Walker, a local auctioneer, will be highlighting each business that is able to contribute to the evening, making it a great way to advertise and reach new prospective customers while giving back to the community.
We are currently seeking items from local businesses, such as:
Services or gift cards
Experiences or activity packages
Product bundles or branded items
Event tickets, lessons, or accommodations
We also welcome monetary contributions to the playground project itself.
If you are interested in donating or would like additional details, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Tamara Ebel at strybks@gmail.com or LeeAnne Tideman at la_tideman@outlook.com.
“École Hepworth Central Public School is situated in a small rural community but it serves families far and wide. As the only French Immersion school in South Bruce Peninsula, students attend from every corner of our community. Our school is thriving with dedicated staff, a nurturing and caring environment, and inclusive spaces.
It’s a wonderful place for children to learn and it’s important that we continue to invest in this school not only for current students but for generations to come.”
– Genielle Hay, parent of Hepworth Hawk students and President of Home & School Association at École Hepworth Central Public School
Recess is a vital part of the school day, and we believe our students deserve a space that encourages movement, imagination, and inclusion. We would love to work on multiple playground development projects in phases over the next few years so that we have a playground that serves all the kids, big and small.
With no government funding or replacement plan in place, our goal is to raise $100,000 to support these future projects.
This is not just an average fundraiser; it’s shaping up to be one of the most engaging community events of the year!
We thank the community for supporting Hepworth School and look forward to hosting community members in April for this worthy cause.