Nearly every grant proposal requires you to submit a statement of need.  It’s usually the second section right after the executive summary.  Essentially, the statement of need will describe the social, environmental, and/or economic problem that your playground project will alleviate.  This is your opportunity to educate the reader about the issues at hand, presenting facts and evidence to support your project.  Don’t confuse the length of your statement of need with the degree of need; a few concise paragraphs may be sufficient.  Read on for just a few questions you should answer when describing why your community needs a playspace.

Also, read last week's installment on writing the executive summary.

From the New York Times: American playgrounds often seem anything but playful. Their equipment is designed not so much to let children have fun as to make sure they don’t hurt themselves. Sure, a simple sandbox and climbing gym are enough to mesmerize toddlers. But what’s to lure older children? No wonder children aged 8 to 12 — the “tweens” — have abandoned playgrounds en masse for instant messaging.

Playgrounds were originally conceived as places to raise future citizens in a social democracy, according to Roy Kozlovsky, an architectural historian, but now they seem geared more toward facilitating easy parental supervision. Well-meaning efforts to reduce the risk of injury have overwhelmed opportunities for self-expression and creativity. Read the full article here (registration may be required).

Who knew playgrounds could start in math classrooms? California middle school teacher Marc Petrie has found a way to make his lessons about parallel and perpendicular lines seem like recess. Instead of just teaching his eighth graders the standard curriculum, he challenged his kids to build design models of playground equipment.

Now, Petrie is beginning the process of getting a real playground inspired by these designs built.

New York Times  — JOSEPH GALLO, 10, of Santa Cruz, Calif., is well armed in the battle against childhood boredom, with a bedroom arsenal that includes a computer hooked to the Internet, a DVD player, two Game Boys, as well as an Xbox and a GameCube.

But in recent weeks, the hum of that war room of machinery has quieted because Joseph has acquired a new playtime obsession that would have seemed quaint even in his parents’ day: marbles.

He can thank Michael Cohill, a toy designer and enthusiast, whose marble seminar Joseph attended at a youth fair a few weeks ago. Mr. Cohill considers himself something of a pied piper of the game, having taught it to thousands of children at schools, parks and scout meetings. “They have the exact same experience kids did with marbles a hundred years ago,” said Mr. Cohill, 52.

(Registration may be required for viewing the full article.)

KaBOOM! Marks 50th Operation Playground Build in New Orleans
Playground Pioneers Complete the 50th Playground Build in the Gulf Coast

For Immediate Release

Contact: Alison Risso, KaBOOM!
Office: 202-464-6186
Cell: 202-315-6498
arisso@kaboom.org

Washington, DC, May 16, 2007 –On May 21, the students at Drew Elementary School in New Orleans will no longer have to call the broken asphalt behind the school their playground.  Instead, they will be able to swing, jump and slide on a brightly-colored, state-of-the-art custom playground built in just one day by more than 300 volunteers.  The new playground is the 50th built in the Gulf Coast by the nonprofit organization KaBOOM! as part of its Operation Playground initiative to build 100 playgrounds in communities affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. 

Large fundraising events may take some time to plan but, they’re worth it.  The success of these events usually depends on three things: 1) planning; 2) people; and 3) positive attitudes.  Combine those three and you can’t go wrong.  Want to earn $2,000 or more for your playspace project?  Learn more about these THREE great BIG fundraising ideas! 

- A-Thon Event

- Cookbook Sales

- Silent Auction

KaBOOM! is pleased to announce that on May 21, we will celebrate our 50th Operation Playground build in partnership with LIVE with Regis and Kelly and Disney-ABC Domestic Television at Drew Elementary in New Orleans, LA!  Since its launch in December 2005, Operation Playground has provided more than 17,500 Gulf Coast children with great places to play thanks to the participation and leadership of more than 25,000 volunteers.  We've accomplished a lot, but there is still much more work to be done! Help KaBOOM! achieve our goal to provide every child with a safe place to play within walking distance. Donate now!