Cranberry CUP Set to Top $1 Million, Will Replace Park Palace Playground

Since Cathy Cortazzo founded it 12 years ago, Cranberry Community Uniting People has raised nearly $1 million to support local families in need and other worthy causes.

This year, the nonprofit organization is set to top that amount and expand its services.

At last week’s Cranberry Board of Supervisors meeting, Cortazzo said the nonprofit would be a major contributor to replace Playtime Palace at , the 2012 project of the year for the Cranberry Township Community Chest.

The Community Chest’s 2011 project is a that will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of America.

Cortazzo said the wooden Playtime Palace, built in 1990, has grown splintered over the years.

“It just really needs updated,” she said.

Cranberry CUP raises money through registration fees, raffle ticket sales, individual and business contributions and corporate sponsorships. This year’s beneficiary family is the O’Donnell family of Cranberry. A social studies teacher at Keystone Oaks School District and a father of four, Shawn O’Donnell was diagnosed with incurable colon and liver cancer in May.

The annual Cranberry CUP softball tournament will be Aug. 5-7. There will be a golf tournament Aug. 5.

For more information or to make a donation, visit the Cranberry CUP website.