At KABOOM!, we are full of gratitude reflecting on the opportunity to be part of the 17th NBA Cares All-Star Day of Service, hosted in partnership with the NBA, NBA Cares, the NBA Players Association (NBPA), Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation, and many others. More than 300 volunteers gathered during NBA All-Star weekend in Oakland to revitalize the schoolyard and complete other school renovation projects at East Oakland Pride Elementary School.
“It’s wonderful to see how the NBA Cares All-Star Day of Service is bringing people together to focus on kids in ways that will directly impact their outdoor play and learning experience,” said Lysa Ratliff, CEO of KABOOM!. “These strong partnerships are even more important as we recognize the challenging environment kids are facing, yet there’s so much strength in coming together to put them first. We are grateful to the NBA, Eat.Learn.Play. Foundation, and Oakland Unified School District for uniting with us again at East Oakland Pride Elementary to ensure kids have access to safe, engaging, and outdoor spaces to grow, learn, and reach their greatest potential.”
Volunteers worked to transform the school’s outdoor spaces, painting new murals; planting trees, shrubs and garden beds; creating a nature exploration area; and building tree benches in the schoolyard.
“We believe every child deserves the opportunity to thrive in an environment that nurtures their well-being and fuels their academic success,” said Stephen and Ayesha Curry. “We are amazed at the work that our village of volunteers completed in order to make this our largest schoolyard build. We’re committed to a ‘Whole Child, Whole School’ approach that helps us best support the needs of Oakland’s students and ensure they have access to the resources and opportunities they deserve.
“This 2025 NBA Cares All-Star Day of Service is an incredible example of what can be achieved when strong partnerships come together with a shared vision,” said Chris Helfrich, CEO of Eat. Learn. Play. “By transforming schools into vibrant, supportive spaces and addressing the fundamental needs of every child, we are working to break down barriers to success and build a brighter future for Oakland’s youth.”
The day’s service will leave a lasting mark on East Oakland Pride Elementary School, giving students an inspiring and joyful place to enjoy. The work will continue as we work alongside our partners in Oakland to make progress toward our mission at scale throughout Oakland Unified School District (OUSD), one of our partners in the 25 in 5 Initiative to End Playspace Inequity. East Oakland Pride Elementary School marks the 17th and largest schoolyard transformation for KABOOM! and Eat. Learn. Play. to-date, and the first of seven projects we have planned together for 2025.
