First Lady Laura Bush, KaBOOM! and The Home Depot Build New Playground to Begin Restoring Childhoods in Kiln, Mississippi

First Lady Laura Bush and Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings joined KaBOOM! and more than 250 volunteers on January 26 to dedicate a new community-built playground at Hancock North Central Elementary School in Kiln, Miss.  Mrs. Bush and Secretary Spellings attended the community playground build to draw attention to the need for places to play in the Gulf Coast communities ravaged by Hurricane Katrina. 

The project was the organization’s second in the Gulf Coast as part of Operation Playground: Rebuilding Playgrounds; Restoring Childhoods, an initiative to help Gulf Coast communities build or refurbish playgrounds destroyed during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.  Through Operation Playground, KaBOOM! will build 100 playgrounds in the Gulf Coast between December 2005 and December 2007.  KaBOOM! will also offer communities in affected areas training and technical assistance to build or refurbish playgrounds, skateparks and fields on their own. 

After cutting the bright red ribbon to open the playground, the First Lady applauded KaBOOM! for the plan to build 100 more playgrounds in the Gulf Coast and also noted the value playgrounds add to the rebuilding effort by stating: "Play is really important for children, and one thing that will bring people back to their communities is if they know there's a good school for their children to go to and there are safe places for them to play." 

In addition to financing the project, KaBOOM! Founding Partner The Home Depot also supplied volunteers from seven area stores for site preparation and Build Day.  The new playground will provide more than 800 children who attend Hancock North Central Elementary School a safe and fun place to play amid the debris and clean-up effort.

"We're honored that First Lady Laura Bush and Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings came out today to help us spread the word about the value of play and the need to help begin rebuilding not just playspaces, but childhoods, as well, said Darell Hammond, CEO and co-founder, KaBOOM!."

“Building new playgrounds allows us to give children back their childhoods and helps communities rally around something positive they can do to improve their situation.  The importance of those two things cannot be overstated.  As a mother and former teacher, Mrs. Bush has seen firsthand the benefits play provides children, especially in traumatic times and we’re thrilled to have her support today.” Hammond added.  "We're also fortunate to have a great partner like The Home Depot with us every step of the way."

More than 250 volunteers from The Home Depot, City Year, AmeriCorps*NCCC, Hands On Network, the Navy Seabees, the Army National Guard, Youth Engaged in Service worked side by side to complete not just the new playground, but also build new picnic tables and benches, landscape around the school and even construct an outdoor classroom. 

On February 9, KaBOOM! will build its third Operation Playground project in the Gulf Coast, a new playground in partnership with Motorola at Wilcox Park in Waveland.  In addition to The Home Depot and Motorola, a number of business, government and civic leaders have already expressed interest and support for the program, which began with at a playground build in Bay St. Louis, Miss. on December 17, 2005.  More than 650 volunteers helped build the playground, which was the first new structure constructed in Bay St. Louis after Hurricane Katrina leveled the city’s homes, businesses, schools, parks and playgrounds. 

“Gulf Coast communities like Bay St. Louis, Kiln and Waveland are telling us that they want to rebuild not just physical structures, but a sense of community,” said Hammond.  “With our help, they can come together to build a playground and in the process, that sense of community.  We hope that individuals and companies will join Operation Playground.  Together, we can roll up our sleeves and bring play back to the Gulf Coast.” 

Read Mrs. Bush's remarks from the ribbon-cutting ceremony now!

Communities and companies interested in Operation Playground should call 202-659-0215 for more information.

Additional press coverage from SunHerald.com: Favre and First Lady