2008-07-25 23:50:03 -
WaMu.com - Seattle Public Schools David Tucker, 206-252-0203 or KaBOOM! Mike Vietti, 202-464-6076 or WaMu Darcy Donahoe-Wilmot, 425-444-2500 Washington Mutual (NYSE:WM): -0- WHAT: Washington Mutual (WaMu), Leschi Elementary School and organizers from KaBOOM! will use the dreams and wishes of students to build a playground on Saturday, July 26, 2008, at the school. More than 200
volunteers will replace Leschi's 20-plus-year-old play structure in less than six hours. The project is part of a national partnership between WaMu and KaBOOM! to provide new, safe places for thousands of children to play. Elements from students' drawings, produced nine weeks earlier, were used to create playground blueprints and prepare for the construction of the playground. WHY: The new playground will provide more than 280 children who attend the school with a safe place to develop creativity, imagination and friendships and will also be open to the public. The play space is the fifth of 10 to be built by KaBOOM! and WaMu nationwide in 2008, and one of more than 225 KaBOOM! will build across the country this year in an effort to provide a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America. The partnership is a perfect fit for WaMu's hands-on approach to helping create strong, safe and vibrant communities. WHERE: Leschi Elementary School 135 32nd Avenue Seattle, WA 98122 WHEN: Saturday, July 26, 2008 8:30 AM - Kick-off and volunteer deployment 11:30-1:30 PM - Best time to view playground under construction 3 PM - Ribbon-cutting ceremony to dedicate new play area (Note: all times approximate) WHO: hundreds of volunteers from the community VISUALS: -- Before and after shots of the playground site -- Volunteers assembling brightly colored playground equipment -- Kids from community creating video documentary of playground build -- Ribbon-cutting ceremony to dedicate the playground -- Interviews with kids, volunteers and special guests
More Than 200 KaBOOM!, WaMu and Leschi Elementary Volunteers Roll
Up Sleeves to Build a Dream Play Area for Students
