A new project to raise funds for the replacement of playground equipment destroyed in an arson fire promises to be fun for kids and adults alike. Sacajawea Elementary School students, the school's PTA and the University of Washington's Alpha Xi Delta Sorority will be hosting a community-wide Piggy Bank Parade on Saturday, April 24.

Sacajawea's playground equipment was destroyed in an arson fire last fall. With an insurance deductible too high to cover replacement costs, and all the new safety and environmental requirements, the cost of the new equipment is around $40,000. The PTA and others are trying to raise $20,000 in cash to meet a matching grant from the city's Neighborhood Matching Grant program.

Alpha Xi Delta Sorority held a candle party on March 6 that raised more than $500 for the Playground Fund. The sorority has also been assisting Sacajawea with other fundraisers including car washes, T-shirt sales and general contributions.

"We're so grateful to the sorority women, the three (professional candle company reps), and all the neighbors and friends who supported the Candles for Kids with this fundraising effort," said Cynthia White, a parent and co-chair of the PTA project.

"It's been overwhelming, the kind of support we're getting from the community and local businesses," added Sacajawea principal Harry Nelson. "We just want to thank everyone in the North End, the neighbors, the sorority, the businesses for pitching in to help us raise the $20,000 we need toward the Neighborhood Matching Grant (from the City). It's very rewarding to see so many people help replace the playground equipment that was destroyed by arson."

Throughout the month of April, Sacajawea Playground Fund volunteers armed with miniature pink piggy banks will be collecting donations. The piggy banks will also be displayed at a number of local businesses where contributions to the fund can be made as well.

For a donation of only $2, anyone can obtain a pink piggy bank and start collecting their coins and cash for donation to the Playground Fund. Then, everyone is invited to attend the Piggy Bank Parade festivities at 11 a.m. on April 24, and drop their collections into a giant piggy bank. The free-admission event, which is open to the public, will be held at the school, located at 9501 20th Ave. NE, just off Lake City Way.

There will be music, entertainment and refreshments as the school children return their piggy banks, and those collected from businesses and friends throughout the North End.

The school children will also be learning how to count money and make "bank deposits," just like in a regular bank, with the assistance of Wells Fargo Bank. All funds collected will net the playground fund because of Wells Fargo Bank's generous underwriting of the purchase of the piggy banks to be used in the fund drive.

"We are thrilled to be able to support this project," said Shannon Moore-Gray, assistant vice president and manager of Wells Fargo's University branch, "because it will help the children feel more of a sense of ownership of their playground, and also they will learn how to handle money, too." Moore-Gray wrote an enthusiastic letter of endorsement to the banks' philanthropic committee in support of their underwriting of this project. Volunteers from Wells Fargo will be on hand on April 24 to assist in the money collecting and counting.

Piggy banks will be available at many North End businesses that will display them so their customers and employees will have the chance to support the project with their change and donations.

Anyone wishing to make a direct deposit into the Playground Fund may do so at a special fund set up by Alpha Xi Delta at Wells Fargo Bank branches, including Lake City, Wedgwood and University branches.

In addition, the candle company that provided the candles for Sacajawea's Candles for Kids event "will donate more from any orders for candles for Mother's Day gifts that we receive through mid-March," said Elisabeth Mose, a representative for the company. She can be reached at 367-2126.

To mail a contribution, checks should be made payable to: Sacajawea PTA Playground Fund, and sent to the school at: 9501 20th Ave. NE, Seattle, WA 98115.