Kindness, compassion and play.
GameTime recently completed the construction of a new school playground at Sofía Rexach Elementary School in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The project is part of the rebuilding effort following the devastation of Hurricane Maria in 2017. GameTime worked with global nonprofit Kids for Peace, home to The Great Kindness Challenge and the Kind Coins Campaign, to restore play to students whose school and playground was destroyed by the storm.
GameTime, Kids for Peace staff, partners and volunteers joined together to build the new playground June 13th and 14th and held a ribbon-cutting celebration on June 15, 2018. “Following last year’s hurricanes, the children and families living in Puerto Rico are still facing such difficult times, and we truly hope this playground will bring the Sofia Rexach school community a spark of joy,” said Jill McManigal, executive director and co-founder of Kids for Peace. “Thanks to the kindness and passion of thousands of students, families and committed partners who contributed through The Great Kindness Challenge Kind Coins for Hurricane Relief Campaign, we are so excited to build this beautiful playground with members of the community, and to bring the children the healing power of play.”
The Great Kindness Challenge Kind Coins Campaign is an annual unifying service project to respond to communities in need. The 2018 Kind Coins for Hurricane Relief Campaign was a direct response to the devastating 2017 hurricane season. Leading with kindness and compassion, the students and families who participated in The Great Kindness Challenge wanted to help, and the idea of building new playgrounds at schools in hurricane-impacted communities was born. More than 80,000 students participated in this project, helping to show how everybody has a role to play in creating a kinder world.
Sofía Rexach Elementary School, serving 190 students, was completely destroyed when Hurricane Maria wreaked havoc on Puerto Rico. Students were left without a school, without a playground, and without a safe area to learn, grow, and play. The school was moved to a new location that was formerly an intermediate school. The opportunity to have a new playground for this school was received with great enthusiasm since the school did not have a space for the young students to step away from the challenges of losing their school – and for many their own homes – and to simply play. Kids for Peace and GameTime are thrilled to see the ripple effect and unifying power of the students’ kindness demonstrated through the 2018 Kind Coins for Hurricane Relief Campaign.
About GameTime
GameTime is a leading designer and manufacturer of commercial playground equipment, outdoor fitness products and custom play spaces. Since 1929, GameTime has worked with community leaders, play researchers, nonprofit organizations, corporate partners and families to create innovative play and recreation spaces that demonstrate Play Has No Limit®.
About the Great Kindness Challenge
The Great Kindness Challenge is a positive and uplifting program that creates a culture of kindness in schools, communities, and the world. Using a 50 item checklist, schools and families are challenged to complete as many acts of kindness as possible.
About Kids for Peace
Kids for Peace is a California-based global nonprofit that provides a platform for youth to actively engage in socially-conscious leadership, community service, arts, environmental stewardship and global friendships. Founded in 2006 by a mother and a high school honors student, Kids for Peace has now launched over 450 chapters on six continents.