What Foundations Give Playground Equipment to Public Schools?

Play is an important part of a child's learning and socialization.

Playground equipment for a student body of 400 elementary students can cost $40,000 or more, depending on the type, style and number of pieces in the set. With school budgets getting stretched to maintain academic standards, playgrounds are left to deteriorate. As Americans become more aware of the importance of play and physical activity in keeping obesity and other health issues in check, playgrounds get the attention they deserve. More than 70 public and private foundations, businesses and individuals actively donate money, labor, or both to schools in America for new playground equipment.

Foundation Clearinghouse

Communities depend upon the public working together to improve schools and build playgrounds.

KaBOOM is a national nonprofit agency that offers challenge grants to communities willing to raise the money to build playgrounds for America's children. As of 2010, KaBOOM has built more than 1,900 playgrounds with the help of its Funding Partners. KaBOOM uses its resources to ensure community leaders and organizers have the tools needed to complete a playground within one year of receiving a fund-raising grant. KaBOOM serves as the hub where foundations can donate money for playgrounds, knowing the money is accounted for and available for communities and schools.

National Partners

National partners of KaBOOM are continuing supporters who work to build as many playgrounds as possible each year. These partners are: Dr. Pepper, Snapple Group, Kraft Foods Foundation and MetLife Foundation. These foundations promote healthy lifestyle choices and encourage children and their parents to remain active for life. In most cases, the employees of these foundations volunteer to work alongside parents and other family members of the children who will benefit from the newly created play spaces.

Major Partners and Donors

Major partners are businesses and entities that promote KaBOOM and the healthy effects of regular, active play. These partners donate money, volunteer to build, spend their own money to advertise and promote the playgrounds, and hold fundraising events. These partners are: AMGEN, The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and its state chapters, Huggies, Kool-Aid, MetLife Foundation, Mutual of Omaha Foundation, NBA Cares, Omidyar Network and Playworld Systems, Inc., and Cause Community Partners.

Promotional Partners and Major In-kind Donations

Some partners are those associated with the media or other means of promoting what KaBOOM and its partners hope to accomplish. These partners are able to lay a good foundation for fundraising and encouraging community members to get involved and volunteer labor. These partners are: CNA Foundation, CNN Fit Nation, Discovery Health, Fairytale Brownies, Kudzu, Outcast Media, Skadden, Arps Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Winston & Strawn, LLP.

Build Funders and Donors

More than 70 foundations, businesses, agencies and community groups have funded the construction of playgrounds through KaBOOM. Some of these are one-time donors, building playgrounds for community schools and parks. There are 27 former foundations and business owners who helped in the building of the 1,900 playgrounds to date. By going through a clearinghouse such as KaBOOM, the money is better utilized. By acting as coordinator, KaBOOM has placed many playgrounds in inner-city communities and schools who might not otherwise have had safe places to play.

References

• pepsi refresh project: Hester Elementary School
• KaBOOM: Grants