Allstate and the Aspen Institute’s Alliance for Social Trust recognize KABOOM! and partners for advancing community trust through joy-centered play and civic engagement
Bethesda, MD., May 21, 2026 – KABOOM!, together with El Progreso Memorial Library and ideas42, announced it has received a 2026 Trust in Practice Award from Allstate and the Aspen Institute’s Alliance for Social Trust, bringing $1 million in funding to support efforts to strengthen trust and connection in Uvalde, Texas.
The Trust in Practice Awards are providing a total of $5.25 million in funding to 11 nonprofit collaborations across 10 states. KABOOM! and its partners were selected from over 1,600 applicants. Each awardee represents a collaboration of at least three nonprofit organizations that will work together to advance new solutions to increase trust in their communities. They all bring strong local leadership, a proven track record of building trust, and a commitment to share what works with peers nationwide.
KABOOM! was selected for its work in Uvalde, where it is leading a collaborative effort to strengthen community trust through the power of shared joy and play. In partnership with El Progreso Memorial Library and ideas42, the initiative builds on existing efforts to create and activate playspaces that bring residents together and support healing following community trauma.
“Through a partnership with ideas42 and El Progresso Memorial Library in Uvalde, TX we will spend the next two years collecting the data to demonstrate just how much joy can fuel our collective ability to get things done, how it increases the usage of our investment, and how it is one of the best mechanisms to bring people and their communities together to make real and tangible progress, said Lysa Ratliff, CEO of KABOOM!. “In an environment that can be complex and challenging at times, it’s wonderful to be seen and funded for things we hold most dear in our work: trust building, connection, partnership, and joy.”
“This work turns research, collaboration, and community engagement into visible, measurable, and lasting community experiences that were previously beyond our capacity to implement at scale, said Sarah Welch, Managing Director, ideas42. “Without this investment, many of these efforts would remain aspirational, limited to small pilot activities, volunteer-driven programming, or isolated engagement opportunities rather than becoming a coordinated, evidence-based model for community trust-building.”
“I’m proud that we will be able to share about the families whose lives will be positively impacted through this work,” said Tammie Sinclair, Director, El Progreso Memorial Library. “These stories include children gaining confidence and joy through play and learning opportunities, teens expressing what they want and need in their community, and adults experiencing renewed pride, empowerment, and connection through community-centered spaces and programming. Together, these experiences reflect the growing importance of play, belonging, and community engagement in Uvalde.”
KABOOM!, El Progreso Memorial Library, and ideas42 will use the funding to expand their work designing, building, and activating playspaces in Uvalde while testing scalable approaches that connect joy-centered experiences with long-term civic engagement and trust-building.
“The response to the Trust in Practice Awards has made it clear that communities are eager for new ways to build trust and strengthen local connection, said Louise Packard, Director, Strategic Initiatives & Thought Leadership, Allstate. “We’re excited to support KABOOM! and its partners as they expand work that brings people together and helps build stronger communities.”
The Trust in Practice awardees join a national cohort of organizations committed to sharing lessons learned, strengthening cross-sector collaboration, and advancing community-based models that build trust.
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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, communities, and public and private partners to transform 17,000+ playspaces, expanding access to the physical, mental, and social benefits of play for more than 12 million kids nationwide. As KABOOM! celebrates its 30th year, the organization is focused on community-driven solutions through public-private partnerships, research, policy, and advocacy to elevate the current state of our kids and center youth voice in shaping equitable access to playspaces and nature. Together with partners across sectors, KABOOM! is building the play infrastructure kids need to grow up happy and healthy for generations to come. Learn more at kaboom.org or join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
About El Progreso Memorial Library
El Progreso Memorial Library is the leading nonprofit hub for families in Uvalde, TX – founded in 1903 by women promoting community improvement. The Library offers free educational, inspirational, and recreational reading services; hosts cultural events; offers legal/tax/small business resources; and connects residents with institutions offering nutritional, health, and job training services. The Library’s significance as a family hub for healing and connection grew following the tragic shooting at Robb Elementary School on May 24, 2022. Within 5 months, KABOOM! partnered with the Uvalde community to build our first healing-focused playground together at DeLeon Park, 4 blocks from Robb, sparking a Library-KABOOM! collaboration that has unified the community to eliminate playspace inequity in Uvalde by 2026.
About ideas42
We help mission-driven organizations maximize their impact — improving program outcomes, increasing staff satisfaction, and reducing costs through an evidence-based approach. As behavioral designers, we uncover what’s driving people’s behavior and apply proven strategies to deliver the outcomes our partners are working toward. ideas42 is the first stand-alone nonprofit in the United States to apply behavioral science research to solve the world’s most complex social challenges. Working with trusted partners, we bridge the gap between theory and practice by delivering a complete package of deep research, creative design, and rigorous evaluation.
The Alliance for Social Trust
The Alliance for Social Trust, an initiative of the Aspen Institute in partnership with Allstate, is committed to enhancing social trust in the United States by bringing together high-impact community-based organizations, key national institutions and innovators focused on trust-building. We believe social trust is foundational to a healthy society. Trust is rooted in community, and building trust at a national level begins with change at the local level.