KaBOOM!

KaBOOM!’s stated mission is to help provide “a great playspace within walking distance of every child in America.” Since its founding, it has mobilized communities to eliminate the “play deserts,” and has built nearly 2,000 play areas across the US and Mexico. It has also provided citizens with do-it-yourself resources that have resulted in more than 5,000 community-built parks.

KaBOOM! is a strong proponent of the National Campaign for Play, a policy group advocating for systemic change in the way the US fosters healthy play for children. Leveraging the power of community mobilization for a common cause, KaBOOM! projects have noticeably built momentum for other community revitalization efforts. In an effort to scale its impact and cultivate community development, KaBOOM! has opensourced its mobilization knowledge and provides webinars, organizer toolkits, and a strong alumni and staff support network for those wishing to create community playspaces. One of the most significant tools is the Playspace Finder, a crowdsourced map of areas lacking play areas, to better target resources and activity. It has an online community of +30,000 members sharing stories and photos of relevant activities.

Partner organizations include the YMCA, Boys and Girls Clubs, battered women’s shelters and charter schools. KaBOOM! also enjoys the support of 300 committed corporate sponsors, including Kraft, Dr Pepper Snapple Group, JetBlue, Disney, MetLife, Forresters and the National Basketball Association. It recently developed the mobile “Imagination Playground in a Box” framework to sell to day care centres, children’s museums, and park and recreation departments.