WASHINGTON, D.C. – KaBOOM!, a national non-profit organization that empowers communities to build playgrounds, and CNN announced an agreement to promote play as part of an active lifestyle for children.

KaBOOM!, which has directly facilitated the building of more than 1,400 playspaces across North America since its inception in 1995, will join with CNN and Cox Communications to build a playground at Pontiff Park in New Orleans in just one day on June 28  that will provide more than 10,000 children with a great place to play. CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta will participate in the build, which will be covered as part of CNN’s Fit Nation programming, a multi-platform initiative to stop obesity.

“We’re thrilled to collaborate with CNN in this endeavor,” KaBOOM! CEO and co-founder Darell Hammond said. “We’re optimistic that promoting healthy and active lifestyles with CNN will produce positive change on multiple fronts. There’s no question that increasing the amount of time children play on a playground is a critical component to our goal of improving fitness and health.”

The build will be featured on CNN’s House Call with Dr. Sanjay Gupta, a program dedicated to the latest health and medical developments and airs on Saturdays and Sundays from 7:30 to 8 a.m. (CT), as well as Fit Nation segments across the network’s properties. The playground build also marks the first CNN Fit Nation activity in 2008. CNN’s Fit Nation initiative began in 2006 as an ongoing multi-platform initiative to stop obesity and encourage healthier lifestyles. Over the past two years, Fit Nation and Gupta have traveled across the country engaging people in their own communities to get more active and develop local programs to meet the challenges of being overweight.

By Babs Johnson
Times-Picayune (New Orleans)
June 20, 2008

FEMA's slow response to the restoration of New Orleans' public ball fields and playgrounds shows a sweeping disregard for those who have been affected most: our children. My jaw dropped reading a recent statement from FEMA that the expense of sod vs. seed "required review from high authority," an astounding comment after the recent revelation that $85 million in supplies for Katrina victims languished unknown and unused for two years.

Many of the trailers that housed displaced people on city playgrounds have been vacant for six months; some for eight. Why couldn't FEMA and the city reach agreements on how to restore the play areas before the trailers were removed, since both agencies were aware that would happen months prior to the actual removal dates?

Many children in these neighborhoods relied on these ball fields and playgrounds. They were the only places providing them safe, wholesome places to play -- that is, to do the important work of childhood. Without those, many are finding the street corners and all the ills that lifestyle holds. [More]

Learn how KaBOOM! is bringing play back to the Gulf Coast through Operation Playground.

WLOX - Kids welcome KaBOOM! 100th playground

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Learn more about Operation Playground

A photo from the ribbon-cutting at the 100th Operation Playground build appeared on a huge electronic billboard in Times Square in New York City between 10 and 11 a.m. Eastern time on June 16! Here's what it looked like:

The 100th build from Operation Playground was featured on "Good Morning America" today!

Watch the segment here.

Learn more about Operation Playground.

Stories on the 100th build in the Gulf Coast:
WLOX TV - KaBoom Completes Their 100th Playground

Biloxi Sun Herald - KaBOOM! celebrates 100th playground

Story on upcoming Gulf Coast builds:
Mississippi Press - KaBOOM! playground to be built in Gautier

Learn more about Operation Playground.

Check out photos from the build!

More than 500 volunteers converged on Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Park in Bay St. Louis on Saturday to help KaBOOM! and our partners complete the 100th Operation Playground project in the Gulf Coast. In December 2005, KaBOOM! committed to build 100 playgrounds in the region after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated the Gulf Coast, starting with the first in Bay St. Louis. It was only fitting that the 100th playground was built in the town where it all began. 

The 100th build was a true community celebration. Not even a midday shower could dampen the enthusiasm of the volunteers from the local community, Fannie Mae, AmeriCorps*NCCC, Gulf Coast Recovery Corps, Keesler Air Force base, and others, many of whom had participated in several previous Operation Playground projects. In just under six hours, the volunteers completed two playground structures, refurbished two basketball courts, and built an extensive new ‘front porch’ entrance to the park. They also painted several murals commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King, the community and Operation Playground. As a finishing touch, local children created a ‘Heroes Walk’ around the park honoring the men and women of the Civil Rights movement. 

The project was made possible by a partnership between KaBOOM!, the Mississippi Hurricane Recovery Fund, the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Fannie Mae, Foundation for the Mid South, the City of Bay St. Louis, Hancock Housing Resource Center and Powerhouse of Deliverance Church. At 2:30, representatives from each of the organizations, along with the volunteers and past Operation Playground Community Partners, gathered to cut a very special ribbon made up of 100 painted panels representing each of the 100 Operation Playground projects.    

Because of Operation Playground, more than 22,000 volunteers have donated their time to build playgrounds for nearly 50,000 children from Houston to Mobile.  In all, through Operation Playground, $8.2 million has been invested to build great new places to play in the Gulf Coast by Jim and Donna Barksdale, The Home Depot, Playworld Systems, Fannie Mae, Mississippi Hurricane Recovery Fund, the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, NBA Cares, DJR Foundation, AmeriCares, ESPN, ING Direct and other outstanding partners. 

KaBOOM! will continue to build in the region and already has several projects scheduled through December. The 101st and 102nd Operation Playground projects will take place in New Orleans and Biloxi on Saturday, June 28. Volunteer for one of these projects.

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KaBOOM! builds 100th playground in the Gulf
“Operation Playground” initiative provides a great place to play for 49,605 children from Houston to Mobile

After Hurricanes Katrina and Rita struck the Gulf Coast, KaBOOM!, the national non-profit that empowers communities to build playgrounds, made a commitment to build 100 playgrounds in the areas hardest hit by the storms.  On June 14th, in Bay St. Louis Miss., KaBOOM! will reach this goal.

“When KaBOOM! began Operation Playground just three months after Hurricane Katrina struck, those outside the area were incredulous, believing that playgrounds were the last thing people needed in the midst of the devastation,” said Darell Hammond, CEO and Co-founder, KaBOOM! “But we knew that the Gulf Coast’s youngest residents needed safe places to escape the stress of the rebuilding effort and reclaim their childhood.”

On Dec. 17, 2005, more than 600 residents and other volunteers came together at Carol Vegas Park in Bay St. Louis, Miss., to build a new playground, the first new permanent structure constructed in the town since Hurricane Katrina.  Some wanted to give their kids a safe place to go while they re-built their homes; some remembered the aftermath of Hurricane Camille in 1969 and said they wanted to make sure local children had a place to heal emotionally; and others came out to take action and to be a part of the rebuilding process.  On that day, and 98 other days just like it, volunteers transformed an empty lot into a great place to play in just one day.

Last Saturday, in 95˚ heat, KaBOOM! had its 99th build in the Gulf Coast -- and a Build Day wedding! -- at Life Academy, a preschool program of the Resurrection of Life Church in Picayune, Miss.

Volunteers kept busy assembling the play structure, rock blocks, slither slide, adventure bridge, and Freddy Firetruck, plus shade structures, butcher block benches and picnic tables...until 10 a.m., when everyone was told to put down their tools because it was time to go to the wedding being held on the build site!

The ceremony took place about 50 yards from the playground. The bride and groom, Chris Utter and Roxie Zortman, were joined by friends, family, and all 130 build volunteers, the vast majority of whom were members of the church. When the attendees realized there wasn’t music, they all hummed ‘Here Comes the Bride’ as the bride walked down the makeshift aisle. 

Despite the unusual circumstances, Brother Allen performed a very moving and deeply spiritual ceremony. The bride and groom both shed tears of joy before finally sharing their first kiss as husband and wife. Immediately after the wedding, it was time to get back to work. The groom quickly changed and hit the mulch pile, while his bride regretfully left to spend time with family in for the weekend.

It was quite a day! And this coming Saturday, we'll be celebrating the 100th KaBOOM! Operation Playground build in the Gulf Coast. Learn more.

100th playground planned
Biloxi SUN HERALD
June 8, 2008

After Hurricane Katrina struck the Coast, KaBOOM!, a national nonprofit that helps communities build playgrounds, made a commitment to build 100 playgrounds in the areas hardest hit.

On June 14 in Bay St. Louis, KaBOOM! will reach this goal.

"When KaBOOM! began Operation Playground just three months after Hurricane Katrina struck, those outside the area were incredulous, believing that playgrounds were the last thing people needed in the midst of the devastation," said Darell Hammond, KaBOOM! CEO and co-founder. "But we knew that the Gulf Coast's youngest residents needed safe places to escape the stress of the rebuilding effort and reclaim their childhood."

On Dec. 17, 2005, more than 600 residents and other volunteers came together at Carol Vegas Park in Bay St. Louis to build a new playground, the first new permanent structure in the town after Katrina. [More]

Learn more about the 100th build

On Saturday, the 99th Operation Playground build in Picayune, Miss. will feature something unique amid the flurry of equipment-assembly and mulch-hauling: a wedding!

Chris Utter will wed Roxie Zortman on Build Day. “They said they’d stop the build at 10 a.m. for five minutes” for the wedding, said Chris with a laugh. “We’re helping build after that.”

The build and the wedding are taking place behind a church: Resurrection Life Ministries, where Chris serves as maintenance director in addition to his work as a carpenter and renovator. His fiancée is an interior designer. The two, both 58, have been together since a mission trip to La Hoia, Mexico where they renovated a church together two years ago. Both are members of Resurrection Life Ministries.

They’ve received a variety of reactions from others when they tell them their plans. “People say, ‘Are you serious?’ or ‘That’s way cool!’” said Chris. “We’ve had a myriad of different reactions.”

Chris and Roxie will be having their reception Friday night before the build. “We’re having our reception, and then we’re getting married afterwards,” said Chris with a chuckle.

And yes, he’s excited for the build, too. “It’s a blessing to be able to work and build this playground for the children,” he said.

Photos of the couple – and the wedding -- will be posted on kaboom.org following the build!

Lacombe chosen for new playground
By Chad Ruiz
St. Tammany News
May 19, 2008

It’s playtime for residents and school children alike in Lacombe.

KaBOOM!, FannieMae and Bayou Lacombe Middle School are teaming up to bring the city its first public playground at a cost of nearly $50,000, but the months of construction and eyesores it would take to build the 2,500-square-foot structure have all been condensed into one day.

The national nonprofit organization KaBOOM!, founded in 1995, is dedicated to providing play structures for children across the U.S.

FannieMae, founded in 1938 as a shareholder-owned lender that provides funding to the nation’s housing market, is providing the funds for most of the project that will take place Tuesday beginning at 8:30 a.m.

...

Read the full article

Learn more about Operation Playground

Cherokee volunteers make KaBOOM! history
Monday, April 28, 2008
By SUSAN STACHOWSKI
Mississippi Press

PASCAGOULA -- More than 300 volunteers showed up on the campus of Cherokee Elementary Friday morning to build the Ka-BOOM! playground, and the 8-hour workday was cut in half.

As the sun rose over the campus, activity had already begun with volunteers digging holes, moving mulch and building benches.

Justin Fitzgerald, Ka-BOOM! project manager, was amazed with the volunteer turnout and energy.

"This turnout is just amazing and so is the energy being displayed," Fitzgerald said. "I just had 145 cubic yards of mulch moved in less than an hour. That never happens. We are better than on schedule."

...

Working alongside Fitzgerald was Sarah Pinsky, director of Operation Playground. She agreed with Fitzgerald saying that even early in the morning, this was one of the fastest builds ever.

"It's not just the number of volunteers who came out today, but how hard everybody is working," Pinsky said. "We have had a lot of people come out for builds before but never to move as quickly as these are doing."

...

Read the full article
Learn more about Operation Playground

A place to play
By Matt Sloane
CNN
May 2, 2008

I had one of the most rewarding experiences of my CNN career Wednesday, and it involved 40 children, about as many parents and some homemade jambalaya at a senior center in Louisiana.

“It starts with a playground” is the slogan for KaBOOM, a national non-profit organization that builds playgrounds. KaBOOM is our newest partner in the fight against childhood obesity. For those 40 kids, and even the parents in the room, it really does all start with a playground.

...

That’s where CNN Fit Nation comes in. For us, it started with a phone call to KaBOOM, and six months later I found myself sitting at this senior center, watching the kids draw their dream playground with crayons. From those drawings, the parents and I sat with KaBOOM staffers and picked the playground equipment that best fit the kids’ drawings. Two months from now on June 28, we’ll all meet in Metairie to build it, in a shade under 6 hours.

As the parents and adults thanked me for CNN’s contribution to their community, I asked all of them for something in return - to use this new playground and to get their children moving and to teach them how to stay healthy well into adulthood.

...

Read the full article
Learn more about our work combatting childhood obesity
Learn more about Operation Playground

View photos from Design Day

Following the children’s portion, more than 30 adults from the community met to learn about the KaBOOM! planning process and sign up for committees responsible for construction, food, safety, youth involvement, and volunteer recruitment. The enthusiastic group also established the planning committee’s weekly meeting time and created their own ‘wish list’ of items for the new playground to be constructed on June 14.

Partners for this special build are the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Fannie Mae, the Foundation for the Mid South, the Hancock Housing Resource Center and the City of Bay St. Louis.

The Gulf Coast Community Foundation is the administrator of the Mississippi Hurricane Recovery Fund, which was established by Governor Barbour days after Hurricane Katrina made landfall. This project is one of 17 that will be completed in the lower six counties this year using funds from the Hurricane Recovery Fund. Fannie Mae and the Foundation for the Mid South are also providing matching funds for each project. The Hancock Housing Resource Center (HRRC) is an initiative of the Hancock Community Development Foundation. The main role of the HHRC is to find ways to address housing needs in Hancock County.

“A major part of developing housing is community participation,” said Sherry-Lea Bloodworth, Director of the Hancock Housing Resource Center. “What better way to build close community ties than through a KaBOOM! playground build? I can’t think of a better way to stimulate community participation and reinvigorate weary residents as we continue to rebuild. After all, the KaBOOM! process not only builds playgrounds, it brings communities together. We are so thrilled to be partners for the KaBOOM! 100th playground.”

The first Operation Playground project took place on December 17, 2005 at Carol Vegas Park in Bay St. Louis. More than 600 volunteers gathered on that day to help build the first new playground in the Gulf Coast after Katrina and Rita devastated the landscape. Since then, KaBOOM! and our partners have built 95 playgrounds in towns from Houston to Mobile, bringing play back to the lives of children living in these areas and giving neighbors old and new the chance to build a sense of community lost in the storms.

While KaBOOM! will continue to build in the Gulf after the 100th playground, this important milestone will allow us to celebrate our success with friends, draw attention to the ongoing needs of those living in the Gulf and remind people about the importance of having safe and fun places children can play.

• As planning gets underway for this important build, we want to hear from you! Share your story of how you helped bring play back to the Gulf Coast.
  
  
• Be a part of the movement and join us for this special project. Volunteer for the 100th build!
  
  
• Take a walk down memory lane with us! Check out pictures from all of our Operation Playground projects.

Learn more about Operation Playground.

It's official! The 100th Operation Playground project will take place on Saturday, June 14 at Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Park in Bay St. Louis, fulfilling a commitment we made to build 100 playgrounds in the areas affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The project will kick off with a Design Day on Apr. 28. Our partners for this special build are the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Fannie Mae, the Foundation for the MidSouth, the Hancock Housing Resource Center and the City of Bay St. Louis.

While we will continue to build in the Gulf after the 100th playground, this important milestone will allow us to celebrate our success with friends, draw attention to the ongoing needs of those living in the Gulf and remind people about the importance of having safe and fun places children can play.

As planning gets underway for this important build, we want to hear from you! Share your story of how you helped bring play back to the Gulf Coast.

Be a part of the movement and join us for this special project. Volunteer for the 100th build!

Take a walk down memory lane with us! Check out pictures from all of our Operation Playground projects.

Learn more about Operation Playground

On March 8, New Orleans resident Linda Prout participated in her 16th Operation Playground project in the city! Linda's first build was in September, 2006, at the International School and she has been a dedicated volunteer ever since. A teacher for 25 years, Linda says she appreciates the value of play and loves seeing the playgrounds where she worked filled with joyful playing children.

KaBOOM! salutes Linda Prout for her incredible dedication to our cause. Our work would not be possible without amazing volunteers like her!

What initially drew you to the cause of playgrounds in general, and to Operation Playground in particular?
Linda: Hurricane Katrina and the flooding afterward destroyed our homes, schools, libraries, and playgrounds. For months I did not see any children in my neighborhood. But along with the devastation came the opportunity to rebuild things better than they were before. Operation Playground has been a vital component of the rebirth of New Orleans and our sense of community.

What inspired you to participate in 16 builds?
Linda: At every build I have worked with unforgettable people from KaBOOM!, the local community, and volunteers from all over the country -- like the woman from Washington, D.C. who was celebrating her birthday by returning to New Orleans to build another playground with 12 of her best friends. They inspire me to keep coming back, together with the hope of improving the lives of children in New Orleans.

What's your favorite part of a Build Day, and why?
Linda: Do I have to pick just one?

I love working with children on projects that become part of the playground, such as the mosaic stepping stones, individual paintings, or murals, because they are so proud of their work.

I love lunch! Because here that means red beans and rice, gumbo, fried chicken, jambalaya...

I love the looks on children's faces at the ribbon-cutting ceremony when they first see the transformation from grass and dirt to a beautiful finished playground, because that's like a $1 million paycheck.

Why do you believe the cause of play is important?
Linda: I was a teacher for 25 years, and I always believed that the most important teaching and best learning happened on the playground. Share. Take turns. Use your words instead of your fists. Work together to get it done faster. Stretch your muscles and your imagination.  Include everyone who wants to play. Problem solve. Pick up when you're finished. Have fun.

Do you have plans to participate in future builds? If so, which ones?
You bet! I'll be at Fannie Williams Elementary on May 17, and I can't wait to hear about the 100th build for Operation Playground. Hopefully, I will continue to help with playgrounds until every child has a great place to play within walking distance.

Learn more about Operation Playground

More than a year later, steady tears are still normal for Janet Bean.

She and John would have been married 25 years in September, but his devastating murder last year, kept the two from celebrating their silver anniversary.

"You never get over it," said Bean, as she wiped her eyes.

She also may never have closure as the murder remains unsolved.

Every day Wanda Simpson walks by the desk where her sister Vicky Lynn Stroud McGraw used to answer phones and think up new business ideas for Simpson's pool supply company.

It's been nearly seven years since Simpson's baby sister was brutally murdered and now someone else occupies the space.

Nevertheless, it will hold lasting memories of McGraw.

"Vicky was a people person," Simpson said. "She was very outgoing and full of life."

Thoughts of the murders often fuel tears of sadness for both Bean and Simpson, but on Oct. 25, it was thoughts of gratitude for the 250 or so volunteers and for country music duo Brooks and Dunn that spurred tears of joy.

See photos of the build here.

NEW ORLEANS, LA - The National Basketball Association today will announce a season-long, leaguewide community service program aimed at boosting the rebuilding effort in New Orleans in a year when the league plans to hold its marquee event, the 2008 All-Star Game, in the city.

The official announcement is expected to be made by NBA Commissioner David Stern in a news conference at Walter L. Cohen High School at 12:30 p.m. today, the same day the Hornets tip off the 2007-2008 regular season with a game against the Sacramento Kings at the New Orleans Arena.

"This program says that we're very committed to helping them rebuild and to the rebirth of the Crescent City," said Bob Lanier, a special assistant to the NBA commissioner. "The NBA truly cares. It's not just a slogan. We're committed to being difference-makers around the world."

The program will culminate with the first NBA Cares All-Star Day of Service on Friday, Feb. 15, an event in which more than 2,500 members of the league's representatives, including players, coaches, executives, media members and sponsors, will participate in daylong community service activities. The event will help tip off All-Star weekend in the city. The NBA All-Star Game will be played at New Orleans Arena on Sunday, Feb. 17.

SLIDELL, LA - Bonne Ecole Elementary students, parents, teachers and staff have raised enough money to build a dream playground in December at the Slidell school and are in the process of thanking their generous donors and supporters.

Volunteers from the National Guard and Bonne Ecole school community will tackle the project Dec. 1 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the school, which had old, unsafe or age-inappropriate equipment on campus.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony is set for 3 p.m. and will feature a paper doll chain made by students, said Bonnie Ecole Assistant Principal Kellie Ainsworth.

"Everybody pitched in and did it and made it happen," she said. "We had great support, determination and team work."

BEAUMONT, TX - More than 150 volunteers Monday marked the two-year anniversary of Hurricane Rita with augers, hammers and drill bits.

Building on the prep work that began on Friday, volunteers from organizations including Home Depot, Boys' Haven and the Washington, D.C.- based nonprofit KaBOOM! worked to construct a playground at the Boys' Haven complex on North Major Drive in Beaumont.

Before quitting time at 5 p.m., passersby could see equipment including a slide, a seesaw, a monorail and "bouncing buttons" - toys that function like mini-trampolines.
 
Home Depot manager Anthony Brown, who opened the store in Beaumont, was especially proud that more than 80 of the store's employees came out on their day off.

For more on this story: http://www.zwire.com/site/index.cfm?newsid=18850015&BRD=2287&PAG=461&dept_id=512588&rfi=8

Read another story on this build day: http://www.beaumontjournal.com/news/2007/1003/Front_Page/002.html

NEW ORLEANS - The New Orleans Parks and Parkways Department has partnered with KaBOOM!, a national nonprofit organization that envisions great places to play within walking distance of every child in America. They came together last week to announce that a playground is coming to Joe Brown Park.

Ann Macdonald, director of Parks and Parkways, greeted me at the event, and I met KaBOOM! members Keith Bleichmer, chief landscape architect; Christine Feller, project design manager; Alison Risso, director of communications; Joe Demile, Gulf Coast liaison; and Nell Frisbiem.

There were children there too, and Risson told them they will help design the playground. She asked them to share their ideas as to how they would keep the playground clean. We heard rules such as play safe, no eating in the play area, no littering and take turns.

The week marks the second anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, and KaBOOM! is proud to say that our Operation Playground is still going strong in the Gulf Coast area. Operation Playground, an initiative to build 100 playgrounds in the areas affected by both Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, has passed the halfway mark, with 59 playgrounds built so far.

KaBOOM! has also introduced the Leave a Legacy of Play Fund to include donors who want to help but can’t afford to fund an entire build.

Enthusiasts in the Chicago area will have a chance to come out and see KaBOOM! recognized on Aug. 24 as part of the “Sing Me Back Home” concert featuring the New Orleans Social Club, which includes acts such as Ivan Neville, The Meters, Raymond Weber & Henry Butler, Irma Thomas, Troy Andrews, John Boutte and Willie Tee. 

KaBOOM! will be featured as one of three non-profits at the concert, which will be held at Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park. The organizers of the event wanted to seize the opportunity to acknowledge organizations that are constantly working to improve conditions in the New Orleans/Gulf Region. With more than half of 100 Operation Playground builds in the books, KaBOOM! certainly fit the bill! Learn more here.

Recovery School District Superintendent Paul Vallas announced Friday that several state-of-the-art playgrounds that had been closed will reopen daily through mid-October.

In October, Vallas said he also plans to open school recreational facilities, including gymnasiums and playgrounds, during the district's extended day program, which will run into the late afternoon.

"Children in the community need access to safe areas," said Vallas, who made the announcement at a playground built by KaBOOM!, a national nonprofit, on the campus of John Dibert Elementary. "This is really a no-brainer."

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE     
CONTACT: Alison Risso, KaBOOM!
202-464-6186
Sarah Pinsky, KaBOOM!
312-822-5871

Fund to Build Playgrounds for Gulf Coast Kids on Make A Difference Day

Washington, DC – KaBOOM!, a national nonprofit organization that envisions a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America, announced today a new fund to allow individuals and organizations to contribute as little as $1000 to help sponsor a playground in the Gulf Coast.  The organization’s new Leave a Legacy of Play Fund will combine smaller donations in order to build two new playgrounds in the Gulf Coast this October.  The Fund received a major boost when Fannie Mae, as part of its ongoing commitment to help rebuild Gulf Coast communities, announced it will be a KaBOOM! Legacy Partner with an $85,000 contribution.