This is part of a nationwide effort led by KABOOM! to end playspace inequity – the reality that far too many children do not get the chance to play on a playground, something that should be part of every child’s life.
WHEN:
September 19, 2023
• 9 am-3:30 pm – Volunteers construct playground
• 3:30 pm – Playground completion and unveiling ceremony with photo opportunities
WHERE:
SOME (So Others Might Eat) Independence Place Residence
2802 N Street, SE
Washington, DC 20020
WHAT:
Volunteers from SOME and Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation (MSEF) are constructing a child-designed playground to ensure kids have a safe, inclusive place to play. This is part of a nationwide effort by KABOOM! to end playspace inequity – the reality that places to play are not available to every child, especially in communities of color. This project will provide a state-of-the-art playground to more than 140 children each year.
At the playground ribbon cutting ceremony, attendees will hear from representatives from SOME, MSEF and KABOOM! on the creation of the community-designed playground at Independence Place and the impact this community investment has on the neighbors who will benefit from it.
Media may collect photos and b-roll of volunteers from Monumental Sports and SOME. constructing the playground. Organization representatives will offer remarks at the ribbon-cutting ceremony and will also be available for questions.
For more information, please visit kaboom.org.
WHO:
- Troy Swanda, COO & Senior Executive Vice President – SOME (So Others Might Eat)
- Ted Leonsis, Founder & CEO – Monumental Sports & Entertainment
- Elizabeth Pace, President & Executive Director – Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation
- Washington Capitals & Washington Wizards Players
- Connor McMichael, Washington Capitals
- Anthony Gill, Washington Wizards
- Bilal Coulibaly, Washington Wizards
- Jared Butler, Washington Wizards
- Patrick Baldwin Jr., Washington Wizards
- Volunteers from SOME, MSEF and KABOOM!
CONTACT:
Noelle Motley – Vice President, Marketing & Communications
SOME (So Others Might Eat)
202-642-0361
[email protected]
Jennifer Sparrow – Director, Corporate Communications
Monumental Sports & Entertainment
410-370-9905
[email protected]
ADDITIONAL INFO:
Volunteers from SOME, Inc. and Monumental Sports are building a playground that will spark joy and foster a sense of belonging for around kids in Washington, D.C. Their work is to ensure every kid can experience the numerous physical, social, and mental health benefits of play regardless of background or where they live.
In 2022, KABOOM! launched the 25 in 5 Initiative to End Playspace Inequity, the five-year initiative to accelerate efforts towards achieving their mission to end playspace inequity for good across the United States. This project represents progress in ensuring every kid has a place to play, providing a state-of-the-art playground for the more than 600 children living in the area to enjoy each year.
SOME believes that all kids deserve spaces where students can play together, develop social skills, and be creative. SOME, Inc. also recognizes that not all kids have equitable access to these spaces – especially low-income, formerly homeless children. Further, poverty and homelessness often negatively impact children’s cognitive, emotional, and physical health such as detrimental effects on executive functioning, below average academic achievement, poor social emotional functioning, developmental delays, behavioral problems, asthma, inadequate nutrition, and more (American Psychological Association, 2022). In response, SOME Inc. is thrilled to partner with and Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation and KABOOM! to the 41 formerly homeless children living at one of our nine affordable family housing facilities, Independence Place, with an updated playspace that sparks joy and helps them thrive. Together, we are promoting playspace equity as well as combatting the harmful effects of experiencing poverty and homelessness for children in our nation’s capital.
Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation, the charitable arm of the Washington Capitals, Washington Mystics and Washington Wizards, is funding this new playground that will be built in southeast Washington, D.C. This will be the 11th KABOOM! playground in the D.C. metropolitan area funded by the MSE Foundation and built with involvement by its teams.
To learn how partners can join KABOOM! in their efforts to end playspace inequity, visit kaboom.org/25-in-5.
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About SOME (So Others Might Eat)
For more than 50 years, SOME has been a trusted agent for change in the D.C, regional as a leader in the effort to break the cycle of poverty & homelessness in our nation’s capital, SOME provides material aid and comfort to our neighbors in the District, helping them break the cycle of poverty and homelessness through programs and services that save lives, improve lives and help transform lives of individuals and families, their communities and the systems and structures that affect them. Learn more at SOME.org or by following us on Instagram and LinkedIn.
About Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation
MSE Foundation is committed to making the region a better place for all by supporting game-changing solutions for our community. We fundraise, provide grants to nonprofits and rally Monumental Sports & Entertainment’s teams and fans to support and amplify the impact of community change agents. Together, we’re raising the game in the DMV. Learn more at MonumentalFoundation.org and follow us on Twitter and Instagram.
About KABOOM!
KABOOM! is the national nonprofit committed to ending playspace inequity – the reality that quality places to play are not available to every child, especially in communities of color. Since 1996, KABOOM! has partnered with kids and communities to build or improve 17,000+ playspaces and ensure that nearly 12 million kids have equitable access to the crucial benefits and opportunities that playspaces offer. In 2022, KABOOM! launched the 25 in 5 Initiative to End Playspace Inequity to accelerate its mission in 25 high-priority locations over five years. Learn more at kaboom.org or join the conversation on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
