Columbia Children Overflow with excitement as they Design KaBOOM! Playground
September 18, 2007
COLUMBIA, SC – September 17, 2007 – Eighty children submitted dream playground drawings to KaBOOM, who will work with playspace designers for a new structure set to be built November 15 at the Jeep Rogers Family YMCA at Lake Carolina. Local business and community leaders, parents, senior citizens, and the children themselves had the opportunity to create a play structure specifically for the community.
KaBOOM! is a national nonprofit organization that envisions a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America. They rally communities to achieve better public policy, funding and public awareness for increased play opportunities nationwide. They bring together children, business and community interests for a select number of community playspace builds each year and provide resources including training, challenge grants, and publications for communities that wish to plan a new playspace on their own. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., KaBOOM! also has offices in Chicago, Atlanta and San Mateo, CA. The Jeep Rogers Family YMCA at Lake Carolina has been selected for a community playspace build. This is a first for the city of Columbia.
The Home Depot is the founding partner of KABOOM! The Home Depot has committed to building 1,000 playgrounds in 1,000 days this year. The Village at Sandhills Home Depot has teamed with KABOOM! and the YMCA to create another great place to play in Northeast Columbia.
“It’s so much fun to see the entire Northeast Columbia community getting behind this project,” said the Jeep Rogers Family YMCA at Lake Carolina Executive Director and playground organizer, Wendy Broderick.
“I really appreciate both the financial support of Home Depot and the personal support from their employees. This is a big project and they are working very hard to make sure our children get this playground. And these kids need it! The new Jeep Rogers YMCA may open its doors on November 3 but it won’t truly be complete until the playground is.”
Over the next two months the entire Columbia community will be working together to raise funds and gather supplies to build the playground at the Jeep Rogers Family YMCA. Everyone is encouraged and invited to participate in the project. Please contact Wendy Broderick at 803-865-5456 or [email protected] for information on how to become involved.
