GameTime Offering Funding for Active School Playgrounds

Program Provides up to $25,000 in Playground Funding

GameTime recently announced a new funding program in the United States designed to help schools and parent-teacher organizations raise funds for school playground projects. Schools can apply for up to $25,000 in funds toward the purchase of an eligible play system, including systems designed to align with the PlayOn! Activity Guide. PlayOn! is a standards-based curriculum developed by SHAPE America and PlayCore that includes 125 fun activities to extend your PE class onto the playground and keep students more active during play. Funds can also be applied toward the purchase of a Challenge Course, and schools can design a course to fit their space and budget.

Playground funding is available to apply toward the purchase of play systems that align with best practices for youth physical activity. These systems are recognized as National Demonstration Sites.

"We've worked with schools and PTOs for decades, and many of them experience a similar problem - raising funds for a new playground," said Kent Callison, Director of Marketing for GameTime. "In our conversations with teachers and PTO committees, we learned they needed some help, either a kickstart or a nudge over the finish line in their fundraising. That's what this program is designed to do."

Playground funds are awarded based on the list price of the play system or the list price of the Challenge Course components. 

Schools can design a Challenge Course by choosing from more than a dozen fun and exciting obstacles, and receive funding toward the purchase of the course.

GameTime selected PowerScape and PrimeTime play systems for the program. The systems are designed to provide a wide range of play activities and varying levels of challenge and skill development in the allotted space and budget range. Each is eligible for recognition as a National Demonstration Site and include a sign that helps parents, teachers and community members collect valuable information about how the playground is used. Users scan a QR code on the sign using the camera app on their phone and complete a brief survey. The anonymnous data is compiled and shared with the school to share the social, emotional and physical impact for students and community members.

Learn more and submit your application online at www.gametime.com/school-funding before May 27, 2020.