Cousins Subs in Franklin, Wisconsin, contributed more than $1,970 to support the mission of Kayla’s Krew: to build an all-inclusive playground in Franklin that is inspiring and truly all-accessible for children and families of any age and ability.
“By building an all-accessible, all-inclusive playground, Kayla’s Krew aims to enable all who have special needs to forget about the challenges that they are presented with daily while teaching able-bodied individuals the value of friendship and compassion,” says Shelly Runte, founder of Kayla’s Krew. “Kayla’s Krew envisions the playground as a platform for the community to embrace all abilities.”
Construction on Kayla’s Playground located at Franklin Woods Nature Center will begin with a prebuild on September 2 to 4. The larger community build begins September 22 and ends at 8 p.m. September 27. The playground will then have the special Poured In Place (PIP) rubber surfacing installed. The official ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held October 9 and all community members are invited to attend to celebrate the City of Franklin’s first all-inclusive, all-accessible playground.
“Hearing Shelly’s real-life story about her daughter Kayla was one of those stories [and] examples of the beauty of life, the fragility of life, and the importance of every human being,” says Tom Jones, owner of the Franklin Cousins Subs. “To see Shelly’s heartfelt love and passion for helping others through building Kayla’s legacy is amazing.”
Tom Jones is a nine-year Cousins Subs franchisee owning and operating five locations throughout Franklin, South Milwaukee, Oak Creek, and Greenfield. As a local business owner, Jones and his teams have a profound dedication to giving back to the communities they call home. Over the last five years, Jones’s restaurants have donated more than $50,000 to local organizations. Each of his teams works daily to consistently improve the lives of those around them, both through the quality of the food they serve and in the communities they support.
“Life is relationships, and to see a mother, to see parents, persevere through such a difficult situation is inspiring. It forces you to examine your heart, it forces you to take perspective of your life and to ask yourself how can I help,” Jones says. “You begin to look at the little things that we struggle with and see that others have greater needs, and that working together is the best way to help each other. Kayla’s Krew’s purpose and mission have inspired my team and I, we are proud to help in whatever ways we can.”
