Foresters Financial and the national nonprofit KaBOOM! have awarded the YMCA of Western North Carolina with a “Build It with KaBOOM!” grant that will be used to build a state-of-the-art playground at Black Mountain Primary School in October.
Before Build Day, kids from the local community, led by Black Mountain Primary’s parent teacher organization (PTO), will come together to draw their dream playground. Elements from their drawings will be incorporated into design options for the playground. The community will then choose the final design.
The school’s PTO is already engaged in supporting this effort through fundraising, donations for the build day, volunteer recruitment, and much more.
“We are honored that Foresters and KaBOOM! have chosen to partner with us to build a community playground at Black Mountain Primary, where we have an active afterschool program,” said Melissa Wiedeman, vice president of operations for K-12 child care at the YMCA of WNC. “The Y is all about bringing the community together for a common cause, and providing a safe and fun environment where our kids can play is a cause we can all support.”
Since 2006, Foresters Financial and KaBOOM! have built 144 beautiful playspaces across 86 cities in 31 states and provinces throughout North America. By the end of 2018, Foresters Financial will have funded more than 150 playgrounds.
“Thanks to the hard work of more than 9,900 Foresters members, sales partners, and guests for the last 12 years, we are positively impacting the lives of more than 5 million children by providing them with access to play,” said Jim Boyle, President and CEO, Foresters Financial. “Through each new playground, families are better able to spend quality time together right in their own neighborhoods, playing alongside Foresters members and community partners.”