WASHINGTON, DC - In an effort to inspire others to contribute, an anonymous Mississippi donor has pledged $500,000 to support Operation Playground: Rebuilding Playgrounds, Restoring Childhoods, a new two-year initiative of the nonprofit organization KaBOOM! to build 100 playgrounds in Gulf Coast communities affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Thanks to the $500,000 gift, donations to Operation Playground received by August 29 will be matched dollar for dollar, raising up to $1 million for the initiative.

"The days, weeks and months of recovery following a hurricane can take a severe toll on a community, particularly on the children who live there," said Darell Hammond, CEO and co-founder, KaBOOM!. "For many, homes and schools have been destroyed and friends have moved away. Finding a suitable place to play amid the debris and clean-up effort can be difficult, if not impossible. By having children design their dream playgrounds and residents come together to build them, we're creating not just great places for children to play, but a sense of community along the Gulf Coast."

KaBOOM! introduced Operation Playground in December 2005 to address the vital need for safe places to play in the Gulf Coast in the aftermath of the storms. To date, KaBOOM! has mobilized more than 1,500 volunteers to build playgrounds in Bay St. Louis, Waveland, Kiln, and Pass Christian, and has upcoming projects in New Orleans, Biloxi, Gulfport, Moss Point, and Pascagoula. In August, KaBOOM! will partner with The Home Depot and Playworld Systems to build ten playgrounds across the Gulf Coast during the week leading up to the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Each KaBOOM! playground is designed by the children who will use it and constructed by volunteers from the community.

"We are honored to receive this incredibly generous matching grant from a local donor," said Hammond. "We hope that this will inspire people around the country to take up the challenge and make a donation to Operation Playground. Together we can help bring laughter and play back to the children of the Gulf Coast!"

For more information, to make a donation, or to find out how your company can be involved in the Operation Playground initiative, visit www.kaboom.org or call 202-659-0215.

About KaBOOM!
Celebrating its ten year anniversary in 2006, KaBOOM! is a national nonprofit organization that envisions a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America. Over the past decade, KaBOOM! has used its innovative community-build model to bring together business and community interests to construct nearly 1,000 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 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. For more information, visit www.kaboom.org.

KaBOOM!

KaBOOM!

KaBOOM! is the national non-profit dedicated to the bold goal of ensuring that all children, particularly the 16 million American children living in poverty, get the active play they need to become healthy and successful adults. KaBOOM! has been a powerful champion for play since its founding in 1996, working with partners to build, improve, and open more than 15,000 playgrounds, engage more than 1,000,000 volunteers and serve more than 6,600,000 children. KaBOOM! creates and catalyzes great places to play; inspires, empowers and leads play advocates; and elevates the societal conversation about the importance of play in children’s lives. For more information, visit kaboom.org/act.

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