When someone thinks of what goes hand-in-hand with selling jewelry, most wouldn’t think of playgrounds. But for first-year Pharmacy student Kyla Getz, it makes perfect sense.

Jewelry for Jungle Gyms is a fundraiser that helps raise money to benefit Gifford Park, located at N. 33rd and Cass streets. The program utilizes its profits from a business Getz runs part time while also taking graduate classes.

Working for Premier Designs, Inc., Getz was successful at selling her share of jewelry. She decided she wanted to take it one step further, so she took the profits, or about 50 percent of each item sold, and turned them around to help fund Operation Playground.

“We will be replacing the unsafe and outdated playground at Gifford Park early next fall with volunteers from Creighton’s School of Pharmacy and Health Professions and with the help of Crouch Recreation,” Getz said.

This not only benefits the local park, but Premier Designs has also recently agreed to donate half of its total profits to Christian missions.

Getz said that the high-fashion jewelry sold is in season and has a golden guarantee good for exchanges or replacements at any time. She hopes that people will help support the fight for outdoor recreation as well as improvements within metro Omaha neighborhoods.

“We hope that people are able to realize how beneficial it could be for a new, safer playground to be put in at a frequently used park right near Creighton University,” Getz said.

The movement started at Creighton because two graduate students, Lisa Bagby and Katie Mills, both experienced similar programs at their undergraduate institutions.

“We enjoyed the event so much that we thought it would be a great thing to bring to Creighton University,” said Mills, a third-year Occupational Therapy student. While the project is starting at Gifford Park, the organization wants to expand its message further. As a bonus, they also hope the fundraiser will better the community’s view of Creighton students.

“This project gives them the chance to play a more active role within the community and make a positive impact with its local members,” said Maria Doyle, a third-year Occupational Therapy student who works with grants and funds for Jewelry for Jungle Gyms.

While the group has held smaller fundraisers at The Jay, this past Wednesday, Operation Playground showed off new pieces of jewelry and current catalogs at the Boyne Building. The group hopes the turnout will help jumpstart the funds for the playground.

Currently the operation is focused on just one park, but the students hope the event will spearhead more interest in improving community facilities.

“Playground guidelines and possibilities are constantly changing,” Getz said. “Putting in a new playground could make a huge difference in the lives of many local children.”

Contact Kyla Getz at [email protected] for more information about Operation Playground.