21 Oct All Aboard! Woman’s Club of Fullerton Brings Smiles to the Children’s Center
By Nicola Ely
Associated Students Inc.’s Children’s Center celebrated the donation of a new outdoor climbing train from The Woman’s Club of Fullerton on Oct. 8 through a partnership with the club and the Subaru “Share the Love” program.
The donation provided an additional play structure designed to support children’s physical development, imaginative play and outdoor learning experiences.
A Community That Shows Up
Established in 1902, the Woman’s Club of Fullerton has a long history of supporting community initiatives focused on children, families, education and women’s causes. According to the organization, its mission emphasizes nurturing and supporting women while contributing to programs that strengthen the local community.
For club members, supporting children’s programs remains a priority. Claudia Miller, publicity chair of Woman’s Club of Fullerton, said many members feel a strong connection to youth-centered initiatives throughout the city.
“Children’s programs are very important to us,” Miller said. “Many of us have grandchildren and we like to help any good cause in Fullerton. We are happy to help many groups who improve quality of life in Fullerton and surrounding areas.”
Miller pointed out that access to quality childcare and educational resources can help families, particularly women pursuing educational and career opportunities.
“All you have to do is look at the women who are trying to find a better path in life, and that’s kind of difficult to do while raising a child,” Miller said. “Children centers are an incredible source of support for the women in this community.”
A Lasting Impact
The donation addresses needs that are often difficult to fund through just operational budgets alone. According to Aaron Tapper, ASI assistant director for strategic initiatives, most Children’s Center funding is directed towards daily operations and student employee wages.
“For those extra things, we have to find outside sources,” Tapper said. “So, this is a great ability to find an outside source to provide a new climb and train for the kids.”
The Woman’s Club of Fullerton donated wooden building blocks in 2025, while this year’s donation brought the new climbing train to the outdoor play area, which enhances gross motor play in children.
The partnership between the Woman’s Club of Fullerton and the Children’s Center began approximately two years ago, according to Lydia Palacios, director of the Children’s Center. She said community support has enabled the center to acquire resources that might otherwise require years of budgeting.
“When there are things that we would like to fund, it’s a little difficult to raise funds, and a lot of times if we do have funding, we would utilize it in other ways,” Palacios said. “This really helps support the program and allows us to buy bigger things that we might not be able to purchase within the same time frame that it’s donated.”
All Aboard for Play and Discovery
Teachers at the Center have already observed educational benefits from the brand-new addition.
“It enhances their play because it’s actually a really good gross motor skill for them,” ASI Master Teacher Jenny Imatomi said. “Climbing, jumping and play driving all enhance their gross motor skills.”
In addition to physical activity, the train encourages imaginative play. Imatomi said children often transform the structure into trains, cars and other creative destinations during outdoor activities.
“A lot of them will be like, ‘I’m driving to Disneyland,’ or ‘This is like the train I rode at Disneyland,’” she said, “There’s a lot of imaginary play, which we love outside.”
Children’s enthusiasm for the new structure was immediate. Imatomi recalled students watching the train being assembled from a window and eagerly waiting for the opportunity to play with it.
“When it finally was put in, they were so excited,” she said, “All they wanted to do was go outside and play on it.”
The donation was made possible by funding from Subaru’s “Share the Love” initiative. According to Christine Snowberger, grant chairperson for the Woman’s Club of Fullerton, the organization prioritizes grants that support children and families through nonprofit services.
“Our mission is to provide services and support to various nonprofits that provide services for families within the community,” Snowberger said, “One of those is providing services for children.”
The Value of Community Partnership
For Children’s Center staff members, the donation reflects the value of community partnerships.
“It helps a lot financially to get a new train,” Children’s Center Teacher’s Aide Masen Clark said. “The kids love new toys, and it’s really nice to see them play with it.”
As the Children’s Center continues serving student parents and local families, partnerships with community organizations such as the Woman’s Club of Fullerton help create opportunities that extend beyond the Center’s operating budget.
Through donations that support play, learning and development, community members are helping enhance the educational experiences available to young children at CSUF.