The children of Branches now have a new opportunity to get the balanced and active play they need. An empty lot at the Trish and Dan Bell Family Branches Center – Lakeview Campus was transformed into a kid-designed playspace in less than eight hours with the help of 150+ volunteers from Branches, ESPN, and Disney, area residents and organizers from KaBOOM!.
KaBOOM! believes 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. The design is based on the Branches children’s drawings created at a special event in May. Their ideas were then incorporated into the final playground design.
“ESPN International’s team based in Miami is thrilled to join forces with our colleagues at ESPN Deportes to build a new KaBOOM! Playground at the Miami Branches Center,” said Russell Wolff, Executive Vice President and Managing Director for ESPN International. “Together, we look to promote the health and well-being of kids and families, and support KaBOOM! in its vision of a great place to play for the children in the community.”
Since 1996, KaBOOM! has been dedicated to the goal of ensuring that all children get the balanced and active play they need to thrive because #PlayMatters. The new playground is one of many made possible with support from Disney as part of Magic of Healthy Living, an initiative that partners with parents to inspire kids to lead healthier lifestyles. By the end of 2014, Disney’s support will bring the magic of play to over 75,000 kids and families.
“ESPN Deportes is proud to join KABOOM! and Branches to build the new playground for the children in the community,“ said Lino Garcia, General Manager for ESPN Deportes. “Giving to the community of Miami is a great way to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month; together we are creating a place for the children to play and incorporate more physical activity to the Branches program.”