All about the kids
Surrounded by staff and board members Thursday morning, Children's Village Executive Director Vanessa Moos opens a $100,000 check donation to the nonprofit from Silverwood Theme Park. Front row, from left: Nicole Jacklin, Moos, Silverwood public relations manager Stephanie Sampson and Nancy Porte. Back row: Justin Schorzman, Dr. Tom Rau, Chris Liermann and Marie Nail.
DEVIN WEEKS/Press
Silverwood Theme Park donated $100,000 to Children's Village during a presentation Thursday morning in Coeur d'Alene. Front row, from left: Rosa Mettler, Nicole Jacklin, Vanessa Moos, Stephanie Sampson, Nancy Porte, Emily Aizawa and Jordan Carter. Back row: Justin Schorzman, Dr. Tom Rau, Chris Liermann, Marie Nail and Michael Armon.
One provides fun and entertainment, the other provides safety and care.
Together, Silverwood Theme Park and Children's Village make quite the kid-focused team.
For at least 11 years, Silverwood has presented Children's Village with gifts of funds donated by passengers aboard the park's historical Steam Train No. 7, generally when they are being "shaken down" during a theatrical, interactive train robber show.
From the train alone, just more than $25,000 was raised this season. Silverwood owners Gary and Jeanne Norton added another $75,000 to give Children's Village a nice round gift of $100,000.
“Sitting on the train with my 6- and 8-year-old, hearing the audio as we’re waiting about Children’s Village and Silverwood and the investment in the children of our community, and then having that conversation with the next generation of givers in our community, that’s the value of their investment," Children's Village Executive Director Vanessa Moos said Thursday morning after opening the check.
"Just education that there are children that need you in all ways is really important,” Moos said. "They have the platform — Silverwood is able to do that for us, and we’re very grateful."
Silverwood Marketing Director Jordan Carter said the popular train ride is always super successful when it comes to the kindness of park guests and their desire to give to the nonprofit.
“People know more about Children’s Village," he said. "We’ve promoted it more than ever.”
The money will help with operations and payroll as well as help Children's Village tend to its aging buildings. The two houses on the campus are at least 30 years old.
“We have to replace the plumbing, we have to put all new windows in because they’re old single-pane and the kiddos have figured that out,” Moos said. "We’re having to upgrade a lot of our facilities with the advanced behaviors we’re very good at handling, but our old houses are not good at sustaining."
She said a recent bid to replace all the windows was $75,000.
"Everything is very expensive right now," she said.
The Nortons and Silverwood's support of Children's Village through the years reached $1 million in 2021. Another $100,000 was given in 2022.
In addition to the train funds, the Nortons quietly committed an additional $100,000 to Children's Village earlier this year to support the capital campaign for a future boys home. The home will be dedicated to serving boys 14 and older, who Children's Village is unable to serve at this time.
“Our goal is to build it right there,” Moos said, pointing to a patch of land on the nonprofit's campus.
Children's Village is a residential care facility that serves as a safe haven for kids in crises brought on by abuse, neglect or other family issues. It provides an emergency shelter and respite services.
Moos said 70 unique children were served by Children's Village in 2022, and numbers this year are only increasing.
“We’re very grateful to the Nortons," she said. "They continue to invest in the future of our awesome community."
