From Press, Staff Reports

The Community Development Committee has recognized Shawna Pounds for her selfless civic work in leading efforts to build a local playground.

The committee, one of the Webster County Development Council's strategic planning groups, solicited nominations in the Progress-Times earlier this year for volunteers who had gone beyond the call of duty. Tonya Jones, who nominated Shawna for this honor, provided this written account of the volunteer's efforts:

What does it take for an idea to become reality? Shawna Pounds knows firsthand. Shawna says the motivation for a playground came while working at a mental health facility and being personally involved with the needs of children. She was very involved in her younger siblings' everyday life and this in itself contributed to who she is and her caring attitude toward youngsters.

The idea for this project was born in 1997 while Shawna was employed at this facility. She, along with other associates, were involved in the Project Homestead Task Force. Project Homestead is a statewide initiative forming community partnerships whose goals include supporting family preservation and community living.

The Project Homestead committee decided something must be given back to the children of Webster County. At the time, Oxford was involved in a children's playground project and was very successful in its efforts. Ultimately, the committee felt this was the direction they should lean toward. From the decision-making moment of what the project should be, Shawna spearheaded the fund-raising campaign.

A site had to be determined. Shawna met with the mayor and city aldermen asking them to make the decision for a designated area. After many disagreements and debates the board agreed the playground should be at Whites Creek Lake adjacent to the pavilion and since-added walking track. Monies were available through grants if matching funds could be raised. Alderman Dan Burchfield wrote the grant application which was approved.

The site location and approval of the grant was the "go-ahead" Shawna needed to get started. Rarely has there been anyone more motivated, persistent, determined and passionate about a project than Shawna, despite some real (many, many) obstacles to overcome, but even obstacles became small battles for this lady.

Her fund-raising efforts were supported by her husband, children, family and friends.

Shawna is the daughter of Dale and Marji Boatman of Tomnolen; wife of Jason Pounds; and mother of two, Lauren and Sean Michael.

During the campaign Shawna worked 40 hours a week, ran her household, went to school (earning her degree in 2000 from Wood College) and never slowed down until the goal was accomplished.

To determine the playground equipment needs, Shawna met with elementary schoolchildren, asking them to draw pictures of what they would like. These suggestions were presented to Paul Jacobs, an architect of Starkville and Mississippi State University who so graciously helped with the final plans.

The first fund-raising effort was directed to businesspeople, groups, clubs and industries for support. Shawna presented the need for the project by speaking to these groups. She usually came away with a donation. The first donation was made by Sue Cook of Garan for $500.

Shawna sponsored a yard sale every month for six months, and involved friends and family, GFWC-MFWC Eupora Twentieth Century Club and the Future Business Leaders of America to help with yard sales and Krispy Kreme doughnut sales. Several doughnut sales were held, plus a silent auction at the Woodmen of the World lodge auctioning services and goods.

In 1998 Shawna worked a carnival booth in 100-degree temperature selling and printing T-shirts, and selling bottled water, a treasure chest, balloons and even tickets to carnival rides for a percentage of sales. Even when leisure time allowed, her thoughts were never far away from accomplishing the projected goal.

She visualized the finished project and it happened because she made it happen. When someone would say, "You can't do this," it would fire her up and she'd think up a new fund-raiser.

"There is no way to thank all the people who were involved and helped in various ways," Shawna said. "They know who they are. Their thanks are in the hearts of the children who use and enjoy the playground."

The report concludes, "The people of this community can't thank you and your supporters enough, Shawna, for an outstanding job. Your enthusiasm, dedication and hard work for this wonderful gift to the children is really an asset to the recreational needs of our area."