Osceola County Volunteers Build Playground
CONTACT:
Osceola County: Mark Pino, 404-742-0105, mark.pino@osceola.org
Community Vision: Donna Sines, 407-933-0870, dsines@communityvision.org
The CarMax Foundation: Jennifer Bartusiak, 804-747-0422 ext. 4429, jen_bartusiak@carmax.com
KaBOOM!: Morgan St. Maxens, 202-320-8699, mstmaxens@kaboom.org
225 Osceola County Volunteers Build Playground in Six Hours
Partners Join Forces to Create a New Playground at Robert Guevara Community Center
Thursday, November 17, 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Photo/Interview Opportunities Available
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WHAT: |
More than 225 volunteers from CarMax (@CarMax), Osceola County (@osceolacountyfl), Community Vision (@cvisionosceola), organizers from KaBOOM! (@kaboom) and Osceola County residents will join forces on Thursday, November 17, to give area kids a new playground to explore, imagine and create. The design is based on children’s drawings created at a special design event in September. |
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WHEN: |
Thursday, November 17 |
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8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. 10 p.m. to 1 p.m. 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. 2:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. (Times approximate) |
Kick-off ceremony Best viewing of playground construction Final construction phase Ribbon-cutting ceremony |
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WHERE: |
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WHO: |
225 volunteers from CarMax, Community Vision, and the local community Viviana Janer, Chairwoman, Osceola County Board of County Commissioners Anna Long, Chairperson, Community Vision Board of Directors Donna Sines, Executive Director, Community Vision |
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WHY: |
A playground is more than a playground. It’s a brain expander, friend maker and muscle builder. Play is central to a child’s ability to grow into a productive adult. It enables children to learn, grow and simply enjoy being a kid. Currently, many of the kids in Osceola County do not have a dedicated safe and accessible place to play. This playspace will bring Osceola County one step closer to becoming more playable, by making it easier for kids to get the balanced and active play they need to thrive. A playful child has unlimited potential, and in building this playground together, more than 2,000 kids will have the play-filled childhood they deserve. The CarMax Foundation has provided the majority of the funding for the playground through its national partnership with KaBOOM!, supporting The Foundation’s commitment to furthering the cause of children’s healthy living. The project is among 33 playgrounds The CarMax Foundation and KaBOOM! will build across the country by the end of 2018 – a $5 million investment. Since 1996, KaBOOM! has been dedicated to bringing balanced and active play into the daily lives of all kids because KaBOOM! believes #playmatters for all kids. |
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VISUALS: |
Before and after shots Volunteers assembling, carrying, and installing brightly colored playground equipment Ribbon-cutting ceremony to dedicate the playground |
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About Osceola County
Osceola County is a fast-growing, dynamic and innovative community. While it honors the history and traditions passed down from its pioneer ranching families, it is focused on a vision to be the center of research and manufacturing innovation for “smart sensors” that will supercharge the regional economy as the leader in what will be a $154 billion industry by 2020. As part of the Orlando Metropolitan Area, Osceola County proudly hosts approximately 7 million annual overnight guests who enjoy easy access to Central Florida’s world-famous theme parks and the County’s unique sights and unmatched hospitality. For more information, visit www.osceola.org.
About Community Vision
Community Vision is a grassroots community planning and visioning organization located in Osceola County, Florida. Our mission is "to bring people and resources together to achieve the community's vision." Community Vision utilizes a collective impact model in addressing issues; functioning as the spine organization bringing the public, private and independent sectors together to develop innovative solutions to complex, systemic problems confronting our community. Since 1995, Community Vision has played the very important role of convener in Osceola County on everything from health access for the uninsured, leadership development across socioeconomic and generational groups, homelessness and economic development. For more information, visit www.communityvision.org.
About The CarMax Foundation
The CarMax Foundation is designed to enrich the communities where our associates live and work and has donated more than $30 million since 2003. Funding programs are made available through a portion of CarMax, Inc.’s pre-tax profits. CarMax, a member of the FORTUNE 500 and the S&P 500, and on the FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For® list for 12 consecutive years, is the nation’s largest retailer of used vehicles. Headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, CarMax currently operates 160 superstores in 79 markets. The CarMax consumer offer features low, no-haggle prices, a broad selection of CarMax Quality Certified used vehicles, and superior customer service. During the 12 months ending February 29, 2016, the company retailed 619,936 used cars and sold 394,437 wholesale vehicles at our in-store auctions. For more information, access the CarMax website at www.carmax.com. For more information about The CarMax Foundation, visit foundation.carmax.com.
About KaBOOM!
KaBOOM! is the national non-profit dedicated to giving all kids – particularly those growing up in poverty in America – the childhood they deserve filled with balanced and active play, so they can thrive. Since 1996, KaBOOM! has collaborated with partners to build, open or improve nearly 16,300 playgrounds, engaged more than one million volunteers and served 8.1 million kids. KaBOOM! creates great places to play, inspires communities to promote and support play, and works to drive the national discussion about the importance of play in fostering healthy and productive lives. To learn why #playmatters and why cities are embracing #playability: visit kaboom.org or join the conversation at twitter.com/kaboom or facebook.com/kaboom.
| Start | November 17, 2016 8:30 am |
| End | November 17, 2016 2:30 pm |
| Location | Robert Guevara Community Center 501 Florida Parkway Kissimmee, FL 34743 |