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KABOOM! (non-profit organization)

January 01, 1970

KABOOM! is an American non-profit organization that helps communities build playgrounds for children.

KABOOM!
KABOOM! logo, introduced in 2020
Formation1996
FounderDarell Hammond
TypeNon-profit organization
PurposeCharitable
HeadquartersWashington, D.C.
Chief Executive Officer
Lysa Ratliff
Websitekaboom.org

History edit

Darell Hammond and Dawn Hutchison founded the company KABOOM! in 1996.[1] They were inspired to start KABOOM! after reading a story in The Washington Post about two local children who suffocated while playing in an abandoned car because they had nowhere else to play.[2] Hammond had previously helped build several playgrounds for other charitable organizations. Hammond was also partially inspired by his upbringing in the Mooseheart Child City & School, a group home in Mooseheart, Illinois.[3] Hammond previously studied under Dr. John Kretzmann, director of the Assets Based Community Development Institute in the Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. The institute, which focuses on mobilizing struggling communities using resources already at hand, served as a community-build model for KABOOM! Hammond was also influenced by his participation in the Columbus, Ohio, and Chicago engagements of City Year, an AmeriCorps program seeking to build democracy through citizen service and social entrepreneurship.[4]

Hammond and his friend Dawn Hutchison built their first KABOOM! community playground in October 1995. The two were contacted by Youth Service America to plan a day of service. Although not yet operating under the KABOOM! name, they chose to build a playground at Livingston Manor in southeast Washington, D.C. The playground build lasted five days and involved more than 500 volunteers. Inspired by the build, Hammond and Hutchison incorporated KABOOM! in April 1996.[4] Kimberly-Clark, the corporation behind paper-based consumer products like Kleenex, chose to serve as KABOOM!'s first funding partner as a way of celebrating their 125th anniversary. Kimberly-Clark partnered with KABOOM! to build 38 playgrounds in 1997.[5] Hutchison left KABOOM! that year.[2]

In 1997, KABOOM! launched the "Let Us Play" campaign, which sought to build, renovate or provide assistance to develop 1,000 community-built playgrounds by the year 2000.[6] Vice President Al Gore and General Colin Powell helped launch the program. By 1999, KABOOM! had 50 funding partners and was building more than 50 playgrounds a year.[7]

KABOOM! launched Operation Playground in December 2005, an initiative to build 100 playgrounds in the Gulf Coast areas affected by Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita.[8]

In 2003, KABOOM! began building skateparks under the Eskal8 name. However, this program was discontinued in 2009 when the equipment manufacturer contracted by the organization discontinued the line of products that KABOOM! volunteers could use. In 2004, KABOOM! started offering toolkits, training packages and other forms technical assistance to communities seeking to build playgrounds without the charity's direct oversight. Darell Hammond also made the charity's project handbooks, best practices and guidelines available for free on the organization's website.[2]

In 2007, the organization formed the KABOOM! National Campaign for Play, a program focused specifically on rallying individuals and governments to the KABOOM! cause.[4]

Partnerships with national business edit

The Home Depot has been a long-standing partner of KABOOM! projects. When KABOOM! became incorporated in 1996, The Home Depot became KABOOM!'s founding partner, and has been building playgrounds with KABOOM! every year since. The Home Depot Foundation has supported KABOOM!'s "1,000 Playgrounds in 1,000 Days" initiative,[9]

In 2005, KABOOM! and The Home Depot formed a $25 million partnership for the "1,000 playgrounds in 1,000 days" program. The two groups also build sports fields and ice rink projects, as well as playgrounds.[2] In January 2006, First Lady Laura Bush attended Operation Playground's first playground build at the Hancock North Central Elementary School in Kiln, Mississippi.[10]

In 2009, The Home Depot Foundation became the official "Sustainability Partner" of KABOOM!. The partnership was formed to minimize the environmental impact of playground builds and educate communities on environmentalism and sustainability. Together, KABOOM! and Home Depot have created procedures for environmental-friendly building titled "Guidelines for Eco-Friendly Service Projects". Organizations and community leaders can utilize the Guide when planning construction or building projects.[11]

Pierre Omidyar, founder and chairman of the Internet auction company eBay, contributed $5 million to KABOOM! for the establishment of its website and to support the organization's National Campaign for Play, which advocates the importance and health benefits of play to legislators and policy experts. In addition to Home Depot, KABOOM! has worked in collaboration with such corporations as Target, Fannie Mae and Ben & Jerry's, which created an ice cream flavor "KaBerry KaBOOM" to benefit the organization.[2]

KABOOM! was featured prominently in an episode of the NBC comedy series Parks and Recreation which aired October 22, 2009. The episode, called "Kaboom", included a subplot in which protagonist Leslie Knope (played by Amy Poehler) becomes so inspired by the energy of a KABOOM! playground build that she takes proactive steps to build a playground in her own home town. The episode was part of a campaign in which more than 60 television shows on multiple networks spotlighted real-life charities in an effort to encourage volunteerism.[12]

In 2010, KABOOM! formed a partnership with Amgen, the world's largest biotechnology firm, to build 7 playgrounds across the US and Puerto Rico.

In 2014, KABOOM! became the official distributor of Rigamajig in collaboration with Heroes Will Rise and Cas Holman.

KABOOM! partners with Foresters Financial, the MetLife Foundation, Kraft Foods, Travelers Insurance, and Dr Pepper Snapple Group. Thanks to the partnership with Foresters alone, KABOOM! has built more than 140 playgrounds across the U.S. and Canada as of 2017.[13]

KABOOM! teamed up with Marlon Jackson and his Study Peace Foundation in 2015, to build playgrounds in New Orleans, Gary and Los Angeles, offering programs designed to engage children, adults and the elderly to live in peaceful environments. [14]

Work with presidential administrations edit

KABOOM! volunteers have worked closely with presidential administrations to serve domestic relief and education programs. In January 2006, then First Lady Laura Bush gave dedication address for a KABOOM! playground built at the Hancock North Central Elementary School in Kiln, Mississippi. The project was commissioned after the Hurricane Katrina catastrophe that hit the Gulf Coast region of the United States.[15]

In June 2009, KABOOM! volunteers worked with United States First Lady Michelle Obama and California First Lady Maria Shriver to build a playground in San Francisco. The playground construction was commissioned under the Obama Administration's summer "United We Serve" initiative.[16]

In 2011, First Lady Michelle Obama inaugurated KABOOM!'s 2000th playground, in Washington, D.C to commemorate the organization's 15th anniversary.[17]

Methods edit

 
A playground build in Chicago

KABOOM! organizers build a playground set during a single day. The process begins about six months before the actual construction, when KABOOM! seeks a funding partner, searches for an appropriate site and considers the economic needs of the neighborhood. About 10 weeks before the playground build, project managers visit the community and speak to children about what types and colors of playground equipment they prefer. Three different designs are drafted and the community chooses the final one.

A typical playground ranges from between $70,000 and $125,000. KABOOM! requires its local communities to raise about 10% of the cost, which Darell Hammond described as "a way of engaging the community to solve its own challenges".[2]

Since 2007, the charity has been creating additional online education and training online to give those interested in the cause of play access to industry thought leaders and research. The KABOOM! Map of Play offers users an online map to add, find and rate local playgrounds.[18]

The organization follows a strict process for designing and building playgrounds. The organization also offers "Do-It-Yourself" planning tools and how-to guides for those interested in building or improving a playground.[19]

Chrysler chairman Robert Nardelli, who previously worked with KABOOM!, called the charity "one of the best-run nonprofits".[2]

Programs edit

KABOOM! National Campaign for Play edit

The KABOOM! National Campaign for Play program, launched in 2007, is intended to encourage individuals and governments to embrace the KABOOM! cause.[4] It has two components: the Playmaker Network and Playful City USA.[20] The first of these provides tools and training to individuals to assist them in outreaching to their communities in creating and cleaning play spaces.[21] It also recognizes "Playmakers of the month" for their achievements.

The Playful City USA campaign recognized communities across the country that have made a commitment to play. In 2010, 118 cities were designated Playful City USA communities, representing 36 states. The Playful City USA program ended in 2017.[22]

References edit

  1. ^ "Nonprofit may help create a new play area". Poughkeepsie Journal. Poughkeepsie, New York.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Reingold, Jennifer (2008-01-02). . CNNMoney.com. Archived from the original on 2012-10-18. Retrieved 2009-10-29.
  3. ^ "Doing their best leads to recognition - Two local activists win awards, N.Y. dinner". The Washington Times. Washington, D.C. 1999-03-25.
  4. ^ a b c d "Our Story". KABOOM! (Official site). Retrieved 2009-10-28.
  5. ^ Schoch, Deborah (1997-10-05). "New Place for Kids to Park It; Cooperative Effort Brings Playground to a Grateful Fullerton Neighborhood". Los Angeles Times. p. B3.
  6. ^ "A fun day's work". Maywood Herald. 2000-08-16.
  7. ^ "Rundown, dangerous playground transformed". The Washington Times. 1997-04-28.
  8. ^ "KABOOM! builds playground: West Elementary site took a day.", Coleman, Leigh. The Sun Herald, December 2005 . Retrieved November 24, 2009.
  9. ^ "Wanted: 100,000 places to play", Der Bedrosian, Jeanette. USA Today, April 13, 2009.
  10. ^ "Favre and First Lady/Playground dedication brings them to school". The Sun Herald. Biloxi, Mississippi. 2006-01-27. p. A1.
  11. ^ "National Partners and Programs" 2009-09-26 at the Wayback Machine, The Home Depot Foundation Official Website . Retrieved November 23, 2009.
  12. ^ Block, Alex Ben (2009-10-18). "Networks give for volunteerism". The Hollywood Reporter.
  13. ^ "KaBOOM! Lake Avenue Park goes from vacant lot to "Playspace" - The Apopka Voice". The Apopka Voice. 2017-04-08. Retrieved 2017-04-20.
  14. ^ "Marlon Jackson discusses his Study Peace Foundation". 14 June 2015.
  15. ^ "Mrs. Bush's Remarks after Visiting a Kaboom Playground Build", Press Release issued by the Office of the First Lady, (archive retrieved November 23, 2009)
  16. ^ "Michelle Obama launches volunteer initiative in San Francisco", Strack, Julie Ann. LA Times, June 23, 2009.
  17. ^ "First Lady Michelle Obama Helps Non-Profit KaBOOM! Build 2,000th Playground". KABOOM!. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
  18. ^ KABOOM! Map of Play.
  19. ^ "Cities can learn to build playgrounds, KaBOOM! offers grants for training". The Sun Herald. Biloxi, Mississippi. 2006-12-31. p. A8.
  20. ^ . KABOOM! (Official site). Archived from the original on 2010-08-27. Retrieved 2011-01-05.
  21. ^ "Playmaker Network". KABOOM! (Official site).
  22. ^ "Playful City USA". KABOOM! (Official site).

External links edit

  • KABOOM! (Official site)

January 01, 1970
kaboom, profit, organization, kaboom, american, profit, organization, that, helps, communities, build, playgrounds, children, kaboom, kaboom, logo, introduced, 2020formation1996founderdarell, hammondtypenon, profit, organizationpurposecharitableheadquarterswas. KABOOM is an American non profit organization that helps communities build playgrounds for children KABOOM KABOOM logo introduced in 2020Formation1996FounderDarell HammondTypeNon profit organizationPurposeCharitableHeadquartersWashington D C Chief Executive OfficerLysa RatliffWebsitekaboom org Contents 1 History 2 Partnerships with national business 3 Work with presidential administrations 4 Methods 5 Programs 5 1 KABOOM National Campaign for Play 6 References 7 External linksHistory editDarell Hammond and Dawn Hutchison founded the company KABOOM in 1996 1 They were inspired to start KABOOM after reading a story in The Washington Post about two local children who suffocated while playing in an abandoned car because they had nowhere else to play 2 Hammond had previously helped build several playgrounds for other charitable organizations Hammond was also partially inspired by his upbringing in the Mooseheart Child City amp School a group home in Mooseheart Illinois 3 Hammond previously studied under Dr John Kretzmann director of the Assets Based Community Development Institute in the Northwestern University in Evanston Illinois The institute which focuses on mobilizing struggling communities using resources already at hand served as a community build model for KABOOM Hammond was also influenced by his participation in the Columbus Ohio and Chicago engagements of City Year an AmeriCorps program seeking to build democracy through citizen service and social entrepreneurship 4 Hammond and his friend Dawn Hutchison built their first KABOOM community playground in October 1995 The two were contacted by Youth Service America to plan a day of service Although not yet operating under the KABOOM name they chose to build a playground at Livingston Manor in southeast Washington D C The playground build lasted five days and involved more than 500 volunteers Inspired by the build Hammond and Hutchison incorporated KABOOM in April 1996 4 Kimberly Clark the corporation behind paper based consumer products like Kleenex chose to serve as KABOOM s first funding partner as a way of celebrating their 125th anniversary Kimberly Clark partnered with KABOOM to build 38 playgrounds in 1997 5 Hutchison left KABOOM that year 2 In 1997 KABOOM launched the Let Us Play campaign which sought to build renovate or provide assistance to develop 1 000 community built playgrounds by the year 2000 6 Vice President Al Gore and General Colin Powell helped launch the program By 1999 KABOOM had 50 funding partners and was building more than 50 playgrounds a year 7 KABOOM launched Operation Playground in December 2005 an initiative to build 100 playgrounds in the Gulf Coast areas affected by Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita 8 In 2003 KABOOM began building skateparks under the Eskal8 name However this program was discontinued in 2009 when the equipment manufacturer contracted by the organization discontinued the line of products that KABOOM volunteers could use In 2004 KABOOM started offering toolkits training packages and other forms technical assistance to communities seeking to build playgrounds without the charity s direct oversight Darell Hammond also made the charity s project handbooks best practices and guidelines available for free on the organization s website 2 In 2007 the organization formed the KABOOM National Campaign for Play a program focused specifically on rallying individuals and governments to the KABOOM cause 4 Partnerships with national business editThe Home Depot has been a long standing partner of KABOOM projects When KABOOM became incorporated in 1996 The Home Depot became KABOOM s founding partner and has been building playgrounds with KABOOM every year since The Home Depot Foundation has supported KABOOM s 1 000 Playgrounds in 1 000 Days initiative 9 In 2005 KABOOM and The Home Depot formed a 25 million partnership for the 1 000 playgrounds in 1 000 days program The two groups also build sports fields and ice rink projects as well as playgrounds 2 In January 2006 First Lady Laura Bush attended Operation Playground s first playground build at the Hancock North Central Elementary School in Kiln Mississippi 10 In 2009 The Home Depot Foundation became the official Sustainability Partner of KABOOM The partnership was formed to minimize the environmental impact of playground builds and educate communities on environmentalism and sustainability Together KABOOM and Home Depot have created procedures for environmental friendly building titled Guidelines for Eco Friendly Service Projects Organizations and community leaders can utilize the Guide when planning construction or building projects 11 Pierre Omidyar founder and chairman of the Internet auction company eBay contributed 5 million to KABOOM for the establishment of its website and to support the organization s National Campaign for Play which advocates the importance and health benefits of play to legislators and policy experts In addition to Home Depot KABOOM has worked in collaboration with such corporations as Target Fannie Mae and Ben amp Jerry s which created an ice cream flavor KaBerry KaBOOM to benefit the organization 2 KABOOM was featured prominently in an episode of the NBC comedy series Parks and Recreation which aired October 22 2009 The episode called Kaboom included a subplot in which protagonist Leslie Knope played by Amy Poehler becomes so inspired by the energy of a KABOOM playground build that she takes proactive steps to build a playground in her own home town The episode was part of a campaign in which more than 60 television shows on multiple networks spotlighted real life charities in an effort to encourage volunteerism 12 In 2010 KABOOM formed a partnership with Amgen the world s largest biotechnology firm to build 7 playgrounds across the US and Puerto Rico In 2014 KABOOM became the official distributor of Rigamajig in collaboration with Heroes Will Rise and Cas Holman KABOOM partners with Foresters Financial the MetLife Foundation Kraft Foods Travelers Insurance and Dr Pepper Snapple Group Thanks to the partnership with Foresters alone KABOOM has built more than 140 playgrounds across the U S and Canada as of 2017 13 KABOOM teamed up with Marlon Jackson and his Study Peace Foundation in 2015 to build playgrounds in New Orleans Gary and Los Angeles offering programs designed to engage children adults and the elderly to live in peaceful environments 14 Work with presidential administrations editKABOOM volunteers have worked closely with presidential administrations to serve domestic relief and education programs In January 2006 then First Lady Laura Bush gave dedication address for a KABOOM playground built at the Hancock North Central Elementary School in Kiln Mississippi The project was commissioned after the Hurricane Katrina catastrophe that hit the Gulf Coast region of the United States 15 In June 2009 KABOOM volunteers worked with United States First Lady Michelle Obama and California First Lady Maria Shriver to build a playground in San Francisco The playground construction was commissioned under the Obama Administration s summer United We Serve initiative 16 In 2011 First Lady Michelle Obama inaugurated KABOOM s 2000th playground in Washington D C to commemorate the organization s 15th anniversary 17 Methods edit nbsp A playground build in Chicago KABOOM organizers build a playground set during a single day The process begins about six months before the actual construction when KABOOM seeks a funding partner searches for an appropriate site and considers the economic needs of the neighborhood About 10 weeks before the playground build project managers visit the community and speak to children about what types and colors of playground equipment they prefer Three different designs are drafted and the community chooses the final one A typical playground ranges from between 70 000 and 125 000 KABOOM requires its local communities to raise about 10 of the cost which Darell Hammond described as a way of engaging the community to solve its own challenges 2 Since 2007 the charity has been creating additional online education and training online to give those interested in the cause of play access to industry thought leaders and research The KABOOM Map of Play offers users an online map to add find and rate local playgrounds 18 The organization follows a strict process for designing and building playgrounds The organization also offers Do It Yourself planning tools and how to guides for those interested in building or improving a playground 19 Chrysler chairman Robert Nardelli who previously worked with KABOOM called the charity one of the best run nonprofits 2 Programs editKABOOM National Campaign for Play edit The KABOOM National Campaign for Play program launched in 2007 is intended to encourage individuals and governments to embrace the KABOOM cause 4 It has two components the Playmaker Network and Playful City USA 20 The first of these provides tools and training to individuals to assist them in outreaching to their communities in creating and cleaning play spaces 21 It also recognizes Playmakers of the month for their achievements The Playful City USA campaign recognized communities across the country that have made a commitment to play In 2010 118 cities were designated Playful City USA communities representing 36 states The Playful City USA program ended in 2017 22 References edit Nonprofit may help create a new play area Poughkeepsie Journal Poughkeepsie New York a b c d e f g Reingold Jennifer 2008 01 02 Building playgrounds is serious business CNNMoney com Archived from the original on 2012 10 18 Retrieved 2009 10 29 Doing their best leads to recognition Two local activists win awards N Y dinner The Washington Times Washington D C 1999 03 25 a b c d Our Story KABOOM Official site Retrieved 2009 10 28 Schoch Deborah 1997 10 05 New Place for Kids to Park It Cooperative Effort Brings Playground to a Grateful Fullerton Neighborhood Los Angeles Times p B3 A fun day s work Maywood Herald 2000 08 16 Rundown dangerous playground transformed The Washington Times 1997 04 28 KABOOM builds playground West Elementary site took a day Coleman Leigh The Sun Herald December 2005 Retrieved November 24 2009 Wanted 100 000 places to play Der Bedrosian Jeanette USA Today April 13 2009 Favre and First Lady Playground dedication brings them to school The Sun Herald Biloxi Mississippi 2006 01 27 p A1 National Partners and Programs Archived 2009 09 26 at the Wayback Machine The Home Depot Foundation Official Website Retrieved November 23 2009 Block Alex Ben 2009 10 18 Networks give for volunteerism The Hollywood Reporter KaBOOM Lake Avenue Park goes from vacant lot to Playspace The Apopka Voice The Apopka Voice 2017 04 08 Retrieved 2017 04 20 Marlon Jackson discusses his Study Peace Foundation 14 June 2015 Mrs Bush s Remarks after Visiting a Kaboom Playground Build Press Release issued by the Office of the First Lady archive retrieved November 23 2009 Michelle Obama launches volunteer initiative in San Francisco Strack Julie Ann LA Times June 23 2009 First Lady Michelle Obama Helps Non Profit KaBOOM Build 2 000th Playground KABOOM Retrieved 5 February 2012 KABOOM Map of Play Cities can learn to build playgrounds KaBOOM offers grants for training The Sun Herald Biloxi Mississippi 2006 12 31 p A8 KaBOOM National Campaign for Play KABOOM Official site Archived from the original on 2010 08 27 Retrieved 2011 01 05 Playmaker Network KABOOM Official site Playful City USA KABOOM Official site External links editKABOOM Official site Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title KABOOM non profit organization amp oldid 1211151711, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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