Designed By Kids, Built By Volunteers: Blue Cross And Blue Shield Association And EJE Elementary Academy Team Up To Build New Playground For San Diego Children

October 19, 2008

SAN DIEGO – Today the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) and Excellence and Justice Elementary Academy (EJE Academy) collaborate to build a new state-of-the-art playground in one day, under the direction of KaBOOM! organizers. Construction on the 2700 square foot playground at EJE Academy (191 East Chase Avenue, San Diego, CA 92020) begins at 8:30 a.m. and concludes with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 2:30 p.m.

The new playground at EJE Academy will provide more than 250 children who attend the academy with a safe place to play. The children of EJE Academy helped design their new playground through drawings they created at a Design Day event in August.

More than 200 volunteers from BCBSA, Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies nationwide, EJE Academy, and residents of the San Diego and surrounding communities are joining together to build the playground.

This is the third year BCBSA has collaborated with KaBOOM!. In 2007 and 2006, BCBSA, in collaboration with Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies and KaBOOM!, built playgrounds in Chicago and New Orleans, La. The playspace at EJE Academy is the third built through this collaboration and represents one of the more than 220 new developments that KaBOOM! will build this year.

"This playground will be a place for children to play together and engage in physical activity," said Scott P. Serota, BCBSA president and CEO. "Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies nationwide are committed to investing in their local communities to provide creative ways to help children live healthier lives, now and in the future. We are proud to collaborate with Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies, EJE Academy and KaBOOM!, and are thankful for all of the hard work from our volunteers that are making today's dream come true for the children of EJE."

"The children of EJE Academy were in need of a new playground, and what makes this structure so unique in our area is that the children were instrumental in designing it," said Jerry Hoffmeister, chairman of the board, EJE Elementary Academy. "We are grateful to BCBSA, KaBOOM!, and the many volunteers who helped make this possible."

KaBOOM!, a national nonprofit organization, provided their professional guidance to the EJE Academy playground build. Since 1995, KaBOOM! has shared its community-based model to bring business and community interests together to construct more than 1,500 new playgrounds, skateparks, sports fields and ice rinks across North America.

"In many communities, playgrounds are the main gathering place for children, and playing together is a key component to the healthy development of their minds and bodies," said Darell Hammond, CEO and co-founder, KaBOOM!. "We are appreciative of BCBSA and EJE Academy for their commitment to creating a fun environment for the children of EJE."

Excellence and Justice Elementary (EJE) Academy
Excellence and Justice Elementary (EJE) Academy is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) public charter school serving elementary students from and around the El Cajon District. The school's mission is "Justice, Service and Excellence from the Heart." EJE Academy is committed to create a space where students are expected to learn, succeed and be able to compete in the global economy. For more information, please visit www.ejeacademy.com.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association
The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association is a national federation of 39 independent, community-based and locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies that collectively provide healthcare coverage for more than 102 million individuals – one-in-three Americans. For more information on the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association and its member companies, please visit www.BCBS.com.

KaBOOM!
KaBOOM! is a national nonprofit organization that envisions a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America. Since 1995, KaBOOM! has used its innovative community-build model to bring together business and community interests to construct more than 1,500 new playgrounds, skateparks, sports fields and ice rinks across North America. KaBOOM! also offers a variety of resources, including a web portal and online community, regional and national trainings, grants, publications and the KaBOOM! National Campaign for Play, which includes Playful City USA and the Playmaker Network – a national network of individual advocates for play. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., KaBOOM! also has offices in Chicago, Atlanta and San Mateo, CA. For more information, visit www.kaboom.org.