Swimming Pool Project
The Texas Pythian Home for children, located in Weatherford, Texas, is a non-profit entity whose mission is “to provide a safe, stable environment for children to grow physically, socially, emotionally and spiritually to become responsible, independent adults.” The Home has been a safe haven for children since 1909. It currently serves children whose parents or grandparents are unable to take care of them because of failing health, financial hardship or emotional instability. Along with providing basic needs for the children, the Home strives to give them many opportunities for a fun and happy childhood.
In 1958 a swimming pool was built at the Pythian Home and it soon became one of the favorite summertime activities. The pool is used every day during the summer and occasionally throughout the warm months of the school year. It provides entertainment during the slow summer months and the children are taught a very important life skill, the ability to swim. Many other children in the community benefit from the pool as well because the Pythian Home allows the WISD kid’s Unite Camp and the All About Kids Day Care to use the pool two days every week for many as 180 children per week. Unfortunately, after 49 years of service, this could be the last summer that the pool is operational.
An inspection of the pool done by the City of Weatherford Health Department provided four pages of repairs needed to bring it up to code. It was closed down for about three weeks this summer in order to do some temporary things to keep it going. The entire structure of the system and the plumbing required to keep it clean and functional is failing. The repairs may prove to be as costly as just replacing the pool.
Lori Mauldin, a local artist and photographer, has taken on the task of helping the Pythian Home raise funding for the pool project. Lori is donating 50% of the total sale of every piece of art sold between now and June 21, 2008 to this fund. You may purchase her art directly from her website or at Winestlyes, 200 Oakridge Street, #100, in Hudson Oaks where she has many framed works for sale. Winestlyes will also host an art auction in November, open to other artists who want to donate for this cause. Check your local paper or Mauldin’s website @ www. Lorimauldinphotography.com for the date, to be determined.
Or, you may mail your donation directly to the Pythian Home at P.O. Box 239, Weatherford, Texas, 76086. Please indicate that it is for the “Pool Project.” There are four levels of sponsoring donations available:
1.) The Diving Board $500.
2.) The Slide $1000.
3.) The Shallow End $1500.
4.) The Deep End $2000.
But, all donations of any amount are greatly appreciated and donations are tax deductible.
“After 49 years of service, this may be the last summer that the pool is operational.”
