On November 20, KaBOOM!, the national nonprofit dedicated to giving all kids the childhood they deserve through great, safe places to play, Keurig Dr Pepper and the Pittsburgh Penguins announced winners of the Let's Play Everywhere Challenge in Allegheny County.

The Challenge, funded by the Keurig Dr Pepper Let's Play initiative, awarded $200,000 across ten organizations in the county  to create lasting, scalable design installations that will provide more opportunities to play for kids who need it most.

The Let's Play Everywhere Challenge is a call for innovative ideas that make it easier for families to incorporate play into their everyday routines. The projects implemented through the Challenge will help families make play the easy choice and support kids in getting the physical activity they need to thrive.

Through the Let's Play Everywhere Challenge, ten new playspaces will be created that will reach thousands of kids in Allegheny County by October 2019.

"We can all agree that play is an essential part of childhood, and all kids should have opportunities to play regardless of where they live or their family's income," said James Siegal, CEO of KaBOOM!. "The more kids play, the more likely they are able to grow up happy, healthy and resilient. We are grateful to Keurig Dr Pepper for bringing people together from all walks of life to make a difference in the lives of kids in Allegheny County."

Winning entries include plans from the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy to bring "Ping Pong in the Plaza" to Schenley Plaza, one of the busiest greenspaces in Pittsburgh, and another from non-profit Community Forge, in collaboration with the Pittsburgh Learning Commons, which will create a math-themed rock climbing wall and accessible walkway in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania.

"The Keurig Dr Pepper Let's Play initiative provides funding, equipment and playspaces to help kids and families make active play a daily priority," said Vicki Draughn, vice president, corporate communications and philanthropy. "By investing in new, unexpected opportunities for play, especially for underserved children and their families, we're supporting innovative ideas that can help kids build active, healthy habits for life."

Click Here for a list of grants awarded in Allegheny County.

To learn more about the program, visit the Let's Play Everywhere Challenge website.

(Photo: Glassport Community Outreach, Inc. and Pittsburgh Fulton PTO projects awarded grants.)

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[Posted: Nov. 20, 2018]

11/26/2018