The Jordan Fund has announced a $50,000 grant to the Rotary Club of Bellevue to help build an all-inclusive playground in downtown Bellevue. The fund was founded by Major League Baseball All-Star first baseman John Olerud and his wife, Kelly, in 2003, to provide support to special needs children and their families.

​The couple has experienced first hand caring for a child with special needs. Their daughter, Jordan, was born with a rare chromosome disorder in August 2000.

The Rotary club is in charge of coordinating the $4.5 million Inspiration Playground capital campaign. It has partnered with the city of Bellevue to help fund and build a truly inclusive outdoor play environment and sensory garden at the Bellevue Downtown Park.

To date, the club’s fundraising efforts have raised approximately $1,876,000. The immediate goal is to raise an additional $500,000 so construction can begin in the fall of 2015. Another $2.1 million will complete the full project build-out.

In addition to the Jordan Fund, contributions have come from the city of Bellevue, Drugstore.com, Fred Danz Foundation, Nintendo, Puget Sound Energy, Rotary Wishing Well Foundation, Sterling Reality Organization, Inc., the Fortin Group, Microsoft Corporation and Wallace Properties Inc.

More information and how to make a contribution is available online.

The Bellevue Rotary Club is an organization of approximately 200 business and professional leaders that provides humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations and work to build goodwill in the community and around the world. It is the largest Rotary Club on the Eastside.