FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Uvalde, TX (May 15, 2023) · This weekend, students at Uvalde C.I.S.D. Dual Language Academy in Uvalde, Texas are celebrating as the school debuts a kid-designed, community-built playground. The months-long collaboration between Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District, The Community Foundation Uvalde Forever Fund, Bank of America, the San Antonio Spurs, Sport for Healing Fund, and KABOOM! culminated this week as at least 150 volunteers built the new playspace. The new playground was a collaborative effort by community members, including kids, who presented creative ideas for their dream playground during a design day in March. The playspace at Uvalde C.I.S.D. Dual Language Academy will spark joy and foster a sense of belonging for its students. This is the third playground built in Uvalde through its partnership with KABOOM! to support community healing unity and healing. The project is part of The Community Foundation Uvalde Forever Fund’s commitment to supporting the efforts of local organizations providing residents of Uvalde programs and resources throughout their healing process. “The Community Foundation Uvalde Forever Fund is honored to be a part of bringing joy and healing through play to the students at UDLA,” said Lucy Reinhardt, Fund Coordinator at The Community Foundation Uvalde Forever Fund. “We hope this playground, along with KABOOM’s several other projects, will be a positive force in the lives of Uvalde families now and for many years to come.” The playspace at Uvalde C.I.S.D. Dual Language Academy was also largely encouraged by Coach Norma Jean Sandoval, who has worked over 20 years in the Uvalde C.I.S.D. and advocated the need for a new playground. Coach Sandoval’s dedication to Uvalde C.I.S.D. Dual Language Academy receiving an updated place to play is a reflection of the community’s commitment to the kids and restoring joyful childhoods in the City of Uvalde. “Playgrounds are where nothing else matters,” said Coach Sandoval. “Kids can play freely and laugh together outside of a structured classroom environment. This playground will allow them some much needed fun and relaxation from what’s happening in the world around them.” “At Uvalde C.I.S.D., we believe in the importance of providing our students with safe and engaging places to learn and play,” said Gary Patterson, Interim Superintendent, U.C.I.S.D. “Our partnership with KABOOM! has allowed us to create new and inclusive playspaces that will foster a sense of community at UDLA. We are grateful for their support and dedication to the well-being of our students.” The San Antonio Spurs and Sport for Healing Fund provided support for the new playground through its partnership with KABOOM!, furthering its commitment to ending playspace inequity. In response to the tragedy at Robb Elementary School, the fund was created to provide mental health resources and safe playspaces for local youth. The new playground at Uvalde C.I.S.D. Dual Language Academy is the first major project funded by Sport for Healing and the first time partnering with KABOOM!. “At Spurs Sports & Entertainment, we believe in moving at the speed of community and supporting our friends and neighbors in times of tragedy,” says Dr. Kara Allen, Chief Impact Officer for Spurs Sports & Entertainment. “Through the launch of the Sport for Healing Fund following the Uvalde tragedy and our partnership with KABOOM!, we are increasing access to healing and providing students at Uvalde C.I.S.D. Dual Language Academy a safe space to play and learn.” Playing is the essence of childhood and is a critical developmental need that provides countless physical, social, and mental health benefits. However, far too many children, especially in communities of color, do not have a place to play near where they live or learn. KABOOM! is working to end playspace inequity, ensuring that kids have access to quality places to play, something that should be part of every child’s life. The new playground at Uvalde C.I.S.D. Dual Language Academy, designed with the neighborhood’s unique needs and aspirations in mind, brings Uvalde one step closer toward ending playspace inequity and ensuring that every kid has the opportunity to experience the joys and benefits of play. Bank of America also provided support for the new playground through its partnership with KABOOM!, furthering its commitment to ending playspace inequity. “Playgrounds are places of joy and refuge where children and families learn to appreciate the outdoors and the healing power of play,” said Ventura Perez, President Bank of America San Antonio. “As part of our commitment to Responsible Growth, Bank of America partners with organizations like KABOOM! to help make community-directed ideas like this playground a reality.” After considerable work with the City of Uvalde, an official partner in KABOOM!’s 25 in 5 Initiative to End Playspace Inequity, and community leaders, KABOOM! has identified the need for additional playspaces and will be working to eliminate playspace inequity in Uvalde. The 25 in 5 Initiative to End Playspace Inequity is KABOOM!’s bold goal of achieving playspace equity in 25 places nationwide in five years. With the building of the identified playgrounds needed locally, every kid in Uvalde will have equitable access to places to play for kids in need of normalcy, restored childhoods, and joy. “Throughout the history of our organization, our work has been rooted in the healing power of play,” said Lysa Ratliff, CEO of KABOOM!. “As we continue to partner with Uvalde in bold, new ways, we hope that KABOOM! can play a small role in supporting the community as they continue to heal and create amazing places for the kids to play, learn, and just be happy and healthy kids.”
This weekend, students at Uvalde C.I.S.D. Dual Language Academy in Uvalde, Texas are celebrating as the school debuts a kid-designed, community-built playground. The months-long collaboration between Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District, The Community Foundation Uvalde Forever Fund, Bank of America, the San Antonio Spurs, Sport for Healing Fund, and KABOOM! culminated this week as at least 150 volunteers built the new playspace.
The new playground was a collaborative effort by community members, including kids, who presented creative ideas for their dream playground during a design day in March. The playspace at Uvalde C.I.S.D. Dual Language Academy will spark joy and foster a sense of belonging for its students. This is the third playground built in Uvalde through its partnership with KABOOM! to support community healing unity and healing.
The project is part of The Community Foundation Uvalde Forever Fund’s commitment to supporting the efforts of local organizations providing residents of Uvalde programs and resources throughout their healing process.
“The Community Foundation Uvalde Forever Fund is honored to be a part of bringing joy and healing through play to the students at UDLA,” said Lucy Reinhardt, Fund Coordinator at The Community Foundation Uvalde Forever Fund. “We hope this playground, along with KABOOM’s several other projects, will be a positive force in the lives of Uvalde families now and for many years to come.”
The playspace at Uvalde C.I.S.D. Dual Language Academy was also largely encouraged by Coach Norma Jean Sandoval, who has worked over 20 years in the Uvalde C.I.S.D. and advocated the need for a new playground. Coach Sandoval’s dedication to Uvalde C.I.S.D. Dual Language Academy receiving an updated place to play is a reflection of the community’s commitment to the kids and restoring joyful childhoods in the City of Uvalde.
“Playgrounds are where nothing else matters,” said Coach Sandoval. “Kids can play freely and laugh together outside of a structured classroom environment. This playground will allow them some much needed fun and relaxation from what’s happening in the world around them.”
“At Uvalde C.I.S.D., we believe in the importance of providing our students with safe and engaging places to learn and play,” said Gary Patterson, Interim Superintendent, U.C.I.S.D. “Our partnership with KABOOM! has allowed us to create new and inclusive playspaces that will foster a sense of community at UDLA. We are grateful for their support and dedication to the well-being of our students.”
The San Antonio Spurs and Sport for Healing Fund provided support for the new playground through its partnership with KABOOM!, furthering its commitment to ending playspace inequity. In response to the tragedy at Robb Elementary School, the fund was created to provide mental health resources and safe playspaces for local youth. The new playground at Uvalde C.I.S.D. Dual Language Academy is the first major project funded by Sport for Healing and the first time partnering with KABOOM!.
“At Spurs Sports & Entertainment, we believe in moving at the speed of community and supporting our friends and neighbors in times of tragedy,” says Dr. Kara Allen, Chief Impact Officer for Spurs Sports & Entertainment. “Through the launch of the Sport for Healing Fund following the Uvalde tragedy and our partnership with KABOOM!, we are increasing access to healing and providing students at Uvalde C.I.S.D. Dual Language Academy a safe space to play and learn.”
Playing is the essence of childhood and is a critical developmental need that provides countless physical, social, and mental health benefits. However, far too many children, especially in communities of color, do not have a place to play near where they live or learn. KABOOM! is working to end playspace inequity, ensuring that kids have access to quality places to play, something that should be part of every child’s life. The new playground at Uvalde C.I.S.D. Dual Language Academy, designed with the neighborhood’s unique needs and aspirations in mind, brings Uvalde one step closer toward ending playspace inequity and ensuring that every kid has the opportunity to experience the joys and benefits of play.
Bank of America also provided support for the new playground through its partnership with KABOOM!, furthering its commitment to ending playspace inequity.
“Playgrounds are places of joy and refuge where children and families learn to appreciate the outdoors and the healing power of play,” said Ventura Perez, President Bank of America San Antonio. “As part of our commitment to Responsible Growth, Bank of America partners with organizations like KABOOM! to help make community-directed ideas like this playground a reality.”
After considerable work with the City of Uvalde, an official partner in KABOOM!’s 25 in 5 Initiative to End Playspace Inequity, and community leaders, KABOOM! has identified the need for additional playspaces and will be working to eliminate playspace inequity in Uvalde. The 25 in 5 Initiative to End Playspace Inequity is KABOOM!’s bold goal of achieving playspace equity in 25 places nationwide in five years. With the building of the identified playgrounds needed locally, every kid in Uvalde will have equitable access to places to play for kids in need of normalcy, restored childhoods, and joy.
“Throughout the history of our organization, our work has been rooted in the healing power of play,” said Lysa Ratliff, CEO of KABOOM!. “As we continue to partner with Uvalde in bold, new ways, we hope that KABOOM! can play a small role in supporting the community as they continue to heal and create amazing places for the kids to play, learn, and just be happy and healthy kids.”
The Uvalde C.I.S.D. currently serves over 4,000 students on 8 campuses. Uvalde C.I.S.D. operates three secondary campuses; Uvalde High School, Crossroad Academy, and Morales Junior High. There are five elementary campuses; Batesville, Dalton, Flores, Uvalde, and Uvalde C.I.S.D. Dual Language Academy. The Uvalde community is located in Uvalde County at the crossroads of the two longest highways in the United States, often referred to as the Crossroads of America, US Highway 90 and US Highway 83. Uvalde is 80 miles west of San Antonio and 70 miles east of Del Rio on US Highway 90. Uvalde C.I.S.D. consists of 1,093 square miles in Uvalde, Real, and Zavala counties. Uvalde’s economy is based on agriculture and mineral production. The mission of Uvalde C.I.S.D., a progressive rural community with a heritage of inspiring and growing leaders, is to ensure each student has an excellent foundation to reach his or her goals through; personalized, rigorous instructions, global experiences, a dedicated staff with high expectations, community commitment, and pride in the achievement of all students.
The Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country is the region’s philanthropic endowment, created to support charitable and civic efforts now and for the long term. The Community Foundation works with donors, makes grants to nonprofit organizations, and awards academic scholarships to students in 10 Central Texas counties: Bandera, Blanco, Edwards, Gillespie, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Mason, Real and Uvalde. The Uvalde Forever Fund is a relief fund established on May 24th, 2022, to provide support for healing from the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School. Donors from across America have given to support Uvalde's immediate and long-term needs, specifically mental health, community development, and youth activities. The Fund grants to local causes with a focus on entities and programs already in existence within the community to provide support and resources for their efforts. Learn more at communityfoundation.net.
Bank of America is one of the world’s leading financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 68 million consumer and small business clients with approximately 3,900 retail financial centers, approximately 15,000 ATMs and award-winning digital banking with approximately 56 million verified digital users. Bank of America is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 3 million small business households through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations across the United States, its territories and more than 35 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
Spurs Sports & Entertainment (SS&E) is a value-based and community-centric sports and entertainment company that provides premier live and global digital experiences for fans across a portfolio of three teams and two venues – all supported by a passionate staff of more than 1,000 full and part-time employees. SS&E owns and operates the San Antonio Spurs (NBA), Austin Spurs (NBA G League), and San Antonio FC (USL), as well as manages the day-to-day operations of the AT&T Center, Toyota Field and STAR Complex. The SS&E investor group is led by Managing Partner Peter J. Holt.
The San Antonio Area Foundation (SAAFdn) has served as the city’s community-giving headquarters for nearly 60 years, growing to become one of the top 20 community foundations in the nation. The Area Foundation helps donors achieve their charitable goals supporting our community’s greatest needs, managing more than 500 charitable funds nearly $1 billion in assets. Beyond serving hundreds of nonprofit organizations every year through training and grantmaking, where total impact exceeded $71 million in 2020, the Area Foundation operates a strong student scholarship program. Over $37 million has been invested in our future leaders since 1969 through more than 100 scholarship funds. Learn more at saafdn.org.
About KABOOM!KABOOM! is the national nonprofit committed to ending playspace inequity – the reality that quality places to play are not available to every child, especially in communities of color. Since 1996, KABOOM! has partnered with kids and communities to create or transform 17,000+ playspaces and ensure that nearly 12 million kids have equitable access to the crucial benefits and opportunities that playspaces offer. In 2022, KABOOM! launched the 25 in 5 Initiative to End Playspace Inequity, the $250 million plan to accelerate its mission in 25 high-priority locations over five years. Learn more at kaboom.org and join the conversation at twitter.com/kaboom, facebook.com/kaboom, instagram.com/kaboom and LinkedIn.