The Department of Recreation Administration has launched Play It Forward, an exciting new project which will provide scholarships and funding for students majoring specifically in therapeutic recreation. Did you know? The exam fees for the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification is $425 alone, in addition to another $170 for the California Board of Park and Recreation Certification. Donations to Play It Forward will help to offset the high costs for these state-mandated certifications.
The concept for this project grew from the simple idea of paying it forward to help invest in the future of therapeutic recreation students and assisting with their certification/exam fees, which as you can see, are costly. Hopefully, this creates a nature of giving where they can pay it forward for the next generation. Students would also be eligible for Play It Forward funds after completing their internship and showing proof of registration for the exam.
The recreation profession is the second largest industry in the U.S. and continues to be one of the fastest rising occupations on the job market. The therapeutic recreation option, in particular, prepares students to work in the health care field, helping individuals with disabling conditions use leisure activities to enhance their quality of life. Graduates go on to work in clinical and community-based settings, such as nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, correctional facilities and more.
We are celebrating the act of #GivingTuesday all month long, and today, we invite you to make a gift and/or learn more about the Play It Forward project. Making your gift is simple! Visit the Fresno State donation page and type in “Play It Forward” in the ‘other’ box and choose your gift amount. Every dollar counts and every dollar is much appreciated!
We hope you will join the Department of Recreation Administration in Playing It Forward! By doing so, you are supporting and investing in the future of Live Well leaders right here in the Valley. With your generous gift, students will be eligible for the Playing It Forward scholarship, as early as this coming spring. Donors will have a chance to meet these amazing scholars at the 19th annual Central California Therapeutic Recreation Symposium on April 25th, 2015. More details on this event to come!
To learn more about this project, please contact Dr. Nancy Nisbett at nancyni@csufresno.edu.
Fresno State College of Health and Human Services 