‘It means everything to me’: Penn-Trafford track athlete raises money for elementary school playground

After breaking Penn-Trafford’s discus record and placing third in the state last year, Matthew Sarnowski returns to the throwing circle this track and field season with lofty goals.

But that is not Sarnwoski’s only reason for throwing well this spring. The Penn-Trafford senior’s performance is driving a fundraiser for his elementary school to purchase a new playground.

Some of Matthew Sarnowski’s favorite childhood memories come from running around with friends at Trafford Elementary School’s playground.

When he heard the playground was torn down in August over safety concerns, Sarnowski decided to pitch in for a new one.

“It means everything to me,” Sarnowski said of helping his elementary school. “Trafford was where I made my best memories, especially on the playground. Just to get a playground for them would be awesome.”

Sarnowski, 18, started Throws for Trafford, where community members can give a flat donation or pledge one cent per foot that he throws in the discus, shot put and javelin events this track season. He drew inspiration from former football teammate Jack Jollie, who raised money in 2021 for the Penn Township Police Department to purchase bulletproof vests.

In just one week, Sarnowski raised about $3,600. The fundraiser has now generated more than $5,500.

The former playground was about 20 years old when it was torn down. The stairs and decking of the playground became a tripping hazard, said Mick Bujdos, head teacher at Trafford Elementary School.

“Over the last couple of years, wear and tear, deterioration — our district grounds crew let us know it was getting to the end of its life,” Bujdos said.

When students are released for recess, they make use of the school’s swing set, basketballs, kickballs and jump ropes, said PTO President Melissa Daykon.

The school began fundraising and applying for grants in 2022 to purchase and install a new playground, which will cost about $156,000, she said.

The school is more than 75% of the way there, Daykon said, with about $126,000 raised by late March. The school hopes to install the playground by the start of next academic year.

“It’s really great, and we’re really appreciative of Matthew’s efforts, especially because he’s a former Trafford Elementary student,” Daykon said. “He was part of that old playground that was taken down and now he wants to be a part of the project for the new one to get a replacement for the kids and for the community.”

Regardless of the amount Throws for Trafford raises, Sarnowski’s efforts are meaningful to Trafford Elementary students and staff, said Bujdos, who had Sarnowski in class nearly a decade ago.

“A lot of the teachers here were just really brought to tears about it,” Bujdos said. “Here’s a kid who wants to help out. He’s very selfless.”

Sarnowski bumped Penn-Trafford’s discus record up to 175 feet at the state meet at Shippensburg University in 2023 — an increase of 17 feet.

This year, he aims to set personal records in all three throwing events. He hopes to hit 195 feet for discus, 175 for javelin and break the school shot put record. The season started March 26, and Sarnowski has about 10 to 15 meets to accomplish his goals, he said.

Sarnowski will study chemical engineering and compete for the track and field team at Penn State.