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The Perryville Knights of Columbus Council No. 1263’s 48th annual Tootsie Roll Drive treated donors with Tootsie Rolls but had a much larger treat for the whole community, particularly an 11-year-old young man named Lucas Fritsche.
“Every year, the Knights of Columbus both in Missouri and in Illinois raise funds for the developmentally disabled,” said Tootsie Roll Drive Chairman and Knights of Columbus Membership Director Tom Zarlingo. “Our goal in Missouri is $700,000, and our local goal was $5,000. We had our second best year this year.”
In total, the Tootsie Roll Drive raised $6,585 this year for the developmentally disabled. The Knights of Columbus decided to give to the construction of an all-inclusive playground in Perryville. In total, the Knights of Columbus donated $2,668 of the Tootsie Roll Drive’s proceeds for Fritsche to use toward funding his playground.
“It was approved at our membership meeting to give some of the funds this year to the Lucas and Friends Backyard Adventures Playground at the Robert J. Miget Memorial Park,” Zarlingo said. “I understand that they need over half a million dollars, and there have already been several different groups that have donated thousands of dollars toward the building of the playground.”
The Knights of Columbus saw this all-inclusive playground as a worthy cause that could benefit the community, particularly those with disabilities.
When Fritsche was in third grade, he noticed that his friend with disabilities could only play on the swings. Wanting to give his friend and others with disabilities the same opportunity to play that he has, Fritsche got to work on the idea for an all-inclusive playground. He has presented his ideas at his school and spoken with the City on making this dream a reality.
Fritsche’s family is supportive of his idea and has helped organize fundraisers and construction plans. Along with fundraiser like these from the Knights of Columbus , they have raised about $360,000.
