Snowfest packs the house…

Monday February 6, 2012 | North Adams Transcript

WILLIAMSTOWN — An estimated 250 people came out Sunday to enjoy an afternoon of family-friendly activities at the Williamstown Youth Center’s ninth annual Snowfest fundraiser.

“In my mind, it’s what community is all about,” Youth Center Executive Director David Rempell said of the event Sunday. “The sense of community that comes through is extremely gratifying. All these people coming out together at the same time as supporting this organization — I would say that doesn’t happen every day.”

Held at Williams College’s Towne Field House and Lansing Chapman Rink, the event packed the field house with offerings including Wii video games, a climbing wall, a bouncy house, an inflatable obstacle course, an inflatable Twister mat, spin art Frisbees and other arts and crafts. Athletes from Williams, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and Mount Greylock Regional High School also played basketball and soccer with children, while families were also able to take to the ice next door at the Chapman Rink with members of the Williams hockey teams.

Despite this winter being warm enough to keep cabin fever at bay, children attending Snowfest dove right into the day’s activities.

“They got to the door and went in different directions,” North Adams resident Robert Sills said of his sons, Brandon, 8, and Alec, 4. “They get to interact with all the kids their age, and they seem to

know everybody. It’s a nice community event.”

Elinor Goodwin, Snowfest’s main organizer, said it’s that excitement on the part of the children that inspires her work.

“The motivation is the kids’ faces,” Goodwin said. “There’s a freedom here where they can just go and play. Watching people’s faces when they walk in the door is priceless, and when they walk out the door, they’re always appreciative.” Goodwin has organized eight Snowfests as of Sunday.

Rempell said that while the event’s fundraising goal was $20,000 — to be used for the center’s operating budget and scholarships — he expected the final tally to be “somewhat less” as the Youth Center is still in the midst of a capital campaign for a new building planned on the grounds of Williamstown Elementary School. A groundbreaking for the new facility is slated for March 15, and $4.26 million has been raised to date, Rempell said. Final numbers for the money raised at Snowfest were not available as of press time.

Both Rempell and Paul Jennings, president of the Youth Center’s Board of Directors, highlighted Goodwin’s work in putting the event together, but all three praised the roughly 150 volunteers who help along the way.

“It’s a lot of volunteers from the community and college athletes,” Goodwin said, adding that roughly 100 college athletes and 30 high school athletes volunteered their time. “The whole idea of community service among high schools is growing. And it’s fun; it’s getting to play with kids. The Williams athletes have always been really generous with their time.”

Two of those Williams athletes, sophomore soccer players User Kushaina and Ralston Louie, were playing basketball with children Sunday.

“It’s our way of giving back to the community,” Kushaina said of the volunteer effort. “It’s representing the team and making a good name for the team, and the kids are fun.”

“The best part is working with the kids,” Louie added. “You get to see local up-and-coming athletes.”

One such up-and-comer was focused not on traditional sports, but on the climbing wall.

“I really like climbing and I’m a good climber,” Quinn McDermott, 6, said, adding that his father, Youth Center Board of Directors member Marc McDermott, is an avid climber. Quinn was at Snowfest with his father, grandmother Linda, twin sister, Lily, and brother, Cole, 8.

“It’s a great day and a great cause,” said Linda. “This is typical Williamstown.”