Aquinas raises $10K for memorial playground

All season long, the St. Thomas Aquinas lacrosse team had one goal: “Play for Meadow.”

Oneof the17 victims from the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Meadow Pollack’s loss was felt deeply by the community. Her father, Andrew, has been a longtime staff member with the team and many of the players knew Meadow, 18, since preschool.

As away to honor her, the team created warm-up shirts with the words “Play for Meadow” inscribed on the back and put them up for sale — with all proceeds going toward a playground inMeadow’s memory.

The idea was an rousing success as the team raised $10,137 for the park. The team presented Andrew with the check during the team’s end-of-year banquet.

“It was incredible, because I didn’t expect it,” Andrew said. “The team captains came up with it— they grew up with my daughter. They wanted to do something forMeadow.

“The St. Thomas family really stepped up for me to raisemoney. I’llnever forget it.”

The funds will go toward a playground, which will have a water Pollack feature

and will be constructed at Betti Stradling Park in Coral Springs.

While they haven’t finalized a date for the groundbreaking, Pollack says over $400,000 has been raised. The playground will also feature a memorial dedicated to the17 victims of the Parkland shooting.

In addition to St. Thomas Aquinas donning “Play for Meadow,” college lacrosse teams with Raider alums, such as Maryland, Hofstra andTowson, beganwearing customized “Play forMeadow” T’s aswell.

Throughout the country, the concept picked up steam. Pollack and St. Thomas Aquinas lacrosse coach Terry Crowley’s high school alma maters, Oceanside (N.Y.) and Massapequa (N.Y.), both bought personalized shirts aswell. wdusenbury@sun-sentinel .com, Twitter @dusereport