July 12, 2013 - Playground of Dreams

Students from Yuba City Charter School showed their appreciation by thanking UTI through pictures.

A barren piece of land at Yuba City Charter School was transformed into a dream-come-true playground, thanks to the determination of one very special dad.

Jose Jaime’s two children attend Yuba City Charter School. Each morning, Jose would hurriedly drop off his kids at school before making the 38-mile drive to Universal Technical Institute (UTI) in Sacramento.

Like many of the students, Jaime’s children were thrilled when the school moved to a brand new facility. However, one thing was lacking at the new location – a playground.

Anxious to get a new playground facility built, one day the students noticed that Jose was wearing a Universal Technical Institute shirt, so they asked him if UTI would be willing to help build the playground.

Jose approached the UTI administration about helping. The students followed up with UTI as well, sending letters and pictures they drew of the playground, in hopes their dream would come true.

On May 25, their dream became a reality.

UTI supported Jose’s request and conducted fund-raisers. Jose and others from UTI represented the bulk of the workers who installed the playground while the kids were away on Easter break.

The children who drew the pictures, including Jose Jaime, his son, and others from the UTI team of builders, recently celebrated those pictures coming to life with a ribbon cutting at the new playground.

The local newspaper, the Appeal-Democrat, prepared a long feature on the ribbon cutting here.

“We would have never had this playground built had it not been for Universal Technical Institute,” said Yuba City Charter School principal James Ferreira. “The crew helping us was huge. They worked like crazy to ensure our students have a wonderful place to play.”