Designed By Kids, Built By Volunteers: Blue Cross And Blue Shield Companies, KIPP Explore Academy, And KaBOOM! Team Up To Build New Playground For Houston Area Children

October 18, 2009

HOUSTON – As part of an ongoing collaboration between the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) and KaBOOM!, today Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas is partnering with KIPP Houston to build a new state-of-the-art playground in just one day.  Construction on the 2,500 square foot playground at KIPP Explore Academy (5402 Lawndale Street Houston, TX 77023) begins at 8:30 a.m. and concludes with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 2:30 p.m.

The new playground at KIPP Explore will provide more than 100 children who attend the academy with a safe place to play.  The children of KIPP Explore helped design their new playground through drawings they created at a Design Day event in Houston.

More than 200 volunteers from Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies nationwide, KIPP Houston and residents of the Houston community will come together to build the playground.

The play space at KIPP Explore is the fourth project made possible by a collaboration between BCBSA and KaBOOM!, and represents one of the more than 150 new projects that KaBOOM! will build this year.  Prior to today, BCBSA and KaBOOM! built playgrounds in San Diego, Chicago and New Orleans.

"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," said Scott P. Serota, BCBSA president and CEO.  "We are proud to collaborate with Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies, KIPP Houston and KaBOOM!, and are thankful for all of the hard work from the volunteers that are making today's dream come true for the children of KIPP Explore."

"This has been an incredible opportunity to pull together our entire community," said Frank Cush, KIPP Explore Academy's school leader.  "Building a playground from scratch is no easy task, but after months of hard work, our dream playground is about to become a reality.  It is incredible to see the excitement in our students' eyes as they pass by the huge poster that displays the future playground.  Our students work incredibly hard each and every day.  This playground will give them the opportunity to play just as hard."

KaBOOM!, a national nonprofit organization, provided their professional guidance to the KIPP playground build.  Since 1995, KaBOOM! has shared its community-based model to bring business and community interests together to construct more than 1,700 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 KIPP for their commitment to creating a fun environment for children."

KIPP/KIPP Houston
Two teachers, Mike Feinberg and Dave Levin, started KIPP in 1994 in Houston, TX, after completing their commitment to Teach For America. KIPP has grown to a national network of 82 public schools in 19 states and the District of Columbia, serving 21,000 students.  KIPP schools have been widely recognized for narrowing the achievement gap in public education, and putting underserved students on the path to college.

KIPP Houston's mission is to develop in underserved students the academic skills, intellectual habits, and qualities of character necessary to succeed at all levels of pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, college, and the competitive world beyond.  KIPP/KIPP Houston currently operates 15 schools and serves 4,900 students in the city's high-need communities.  Ninety eight percent of KIPP Houston students are African-American or Latino/Hispanic, and 90 percent qualify for the free or reduced price meals program.  Since the first KIPP school opened in Houston in 1995, 90 percent of KIPP middle school graduates have matriculated to college.  For more information, visit www.kipphouston.org and www.kipp.org.

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 1,700 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.