Disaster and
Crisis Recovery
A place to play provides relief from stress in the aftermath of a crisis
Play is critical to help children heal following a disaster or crisis, as they deal with the stress of lost homes, lost loved ones, lost routine and lost normalcy. KABOOM!, alongside our partners, responds when there are natural or man-made disasters that have an impact on kids.
Our impact
KABOOM! works with communities, corporations and foundations to help rebuild — or create — places for kids to play in the wake of disasters and crises. Our partners and volunteers create playspaces or deploy creative play products, such as Imagination Playground and Rigamajig. As of January 2019, our efforts have produced the following impact:
399,200+
kids
served
260+
playgrounds built
or restored
65+
deployments of
creative play products
55,500+
volunteers
engaged
KABOOM! and the Rebuild Texas Fund A partnership to help rebuild and restore hurricane-affected community playspaces across Texas
KABOOM! and the Rebuild Texas Fund are working side-by-side to bring play to kids impacted by Hurricane Harvey and provide them a safe, fun environment to build resiliency and cope with the stress often associated with natural disasters. Together, this partnership will bring 57 grant opportunities to communities affected by the hurricane.
Learn more about Rebuild Texas Fund playground opportunities
Stories
Chicago community unites to provide a safe place for kids to play
Chicago CRED, KABOOM!, Chicago Park District and the Chicago White Sox, alongside residents of the Pullman neighborhood, rolled up their sleeves to bring a safe place to play to some of the city’s most vulnerable kids.
Read how a truce between gangs led to a new playground and a renewed community
Rebuilding Texas, together
More than 200 volunteers came together to help build a playground for the kids of FamilyLink at Legacy Ranch, a foster and adoption center in Gonzales. With the support of Rebuild Texas Fund, KABOOM! is helping dozens of communities affected by Hurricane Harvey.
Read how a community faced life after Hurricane Harvey together
Putting kids first in Baltimore through Play More BMore
Play More BMore creates playspaces that make it easier for kids to get the play they need in Baltimore. Through multi-sector partnerships, we are increasing access to play in some of Baltimores most challenged neighborhoods.
Baltimore revitalized their communities by putting kids first
Operation Playground: Looking back at the Gulf Coast, 10 years later
When Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, KABOOM! launched Operation Playground. Not to rebuild those all-too-important streets and homes, but to help rebuild childhoods. Through the program and in the following years, KABOOM! channeled more than $27.1 million and mobilized 43,791 volunteers into the Gulf Coast to build playgrounds and restore childhoods.
Find out how we built over 190 playgrounds, serving 293,929 kids in the Gulf Coast
Partnering to help
We believe supporting resiliency in kids and communities is work that can be tied to anyone's values. It is thanks to our generous partners that we've been able to respond to so many kids and communities in need. Learn how to join our efforts through a KABOOM! partnership.
Contacting KABOOM!
Share your story
To share your story of how KABOOM! has helped you, your child, or your community please email openforplay@kaboom.org and include at least one picture of higher quality.
PR inquiries
Visit our press room