FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
() · KaBOOM!, Inc. – the national non-profit dedicated to giving all kids the childhood they deserve filled with balanced and active play – today announced Founder and Chief Executive Officer Darell Hammond will step down as CEO in mid-2016. Hammond will transition day-to-day management responsibilities while actively continuing with KaBOOM! in an advisory capacity. Hammond’s new role will allow him to join his wife overseas, where she will be starting a new assignment at the beginning of 2016. Since its founding out of Hammond’s apartment in 1996, KaBOOM! has raised more than $300 million and engaged over 1 million corporate and community volunteers in building, improving, and opening over 16,000 playspaces, which have provided over 8 million kids in need with the opportunity to play. Under Hammond’s leadership, KaBOOM! has grown into an innovative non-profit bringing together committed funding partners with communities both to create and catalyze great places to play and to promote and protect play, actively influencing people’s perceptions and behaviors so that playtime and playspaces are a priority for families and communities. “I am humbled and grateful to have spent the past 20 years working with communities across America to put kids first and build equitable child-friendly, family-friendly neighborhoods and cities,” said Hammond. “KaBOOM! is well positioned—with valued partners; a strong, diverse senior team; exceptional staff; and healthy operating reserves—to continue its impact and I am confident that its best days are ahead.” KaBOOM! Board Chair Ron Lumbra noted, “Darell is an incomparable leader and social entrepreneur who has built an enduring and impactful non-profit organization. We are thankful that KaBOOM! will continue to benefit from Darell’s immense talent, innovative thinking, and visionary leadership going forward. Darell’s choice of timing is excellent as the organization is in good financial shape, has a deep and experienced leadership team, and continues to build new partnerships to serve kids across the country. We look forward to working with Darell and the entire KaBOOM! senior team to support a smooth transition to new executive leadership in 2016.” The Board of Directors intends to announce CEO succession plans in early 2016. Contact Amy Levner Vice President, Communications and Marketing KaBOOM!, Inc. (202) 464-6077 [email protected]
KaBOOM!, Inc. – the national non-profit dedicated to giving all kids the childhood they deserve filled with balanced and active play – today announced Founder and Chief Executive Officer Darell Hammond will step down as CEO in mid-2016. Hammond will transition day-to-day management responsibilities while actively continuing with KaBOOM! in an advisory capacity. Hammond’s new role will allow him to join his wife overseas, where she will be starting a new assignment at the beginning of 2016.
Since its founding out of Hammond’s apartment in 1996, KaBOOM! has raised more than $300 million and engaged over 1 million corporate and community volunteers in building, improving, and opening over 16,000 playspaces, which have provided over 8 million kids in need with the opportunity to play. Under Hammond’s leadership, KaBOOM! has grown into an innovative non-profit bringing together committed funding partners with communities both to create and catalyze great places to play and to promote and protect play, actively influencing people’s perceptions and behaviors so that playtime and playspaces are a priority for families and communities.
“I am humbled and grateful to have spent the past 20 years working with communities across America to put kids first and build equitable child-friendly, family-friendly neighborhoods and cities,” said Hammond. “KaBOOM! is well positioned—with valued partners; a strong, diverse senior team; exceptional staff; and healthy operating reserves—to continue its impact and I am confident that its best days are ahead.”
KaBOOM! Board Chair Ron Lumbra noted, “Darell is an incomparable leader and social entrepreneur who has built an enduring and impactful non-profit organization. We are thankful that KaBOOM! will continue to benefit from Darell’s immense talent, innovative thinking, and visionary leadership going forward. Darell’s choice of timing is excellent as the organization is in good financial shape, has a deep and experienced leadership team, and continues to build new partnerships to serve kids across the country. We look forward to working with Darell and the entire KaBOOM! senior team to support a smooth transition to new executive leadership in 2016.”
The Board of Directors intends to announce CEO succession plans in early 2016.
Contact Amy Levner Vice President, Communications and Marketing KaBOOM!, Inc. (202) 464-6077 [email protected]
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.