-- More than 250 representatives from the Arizona Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge dealers, Chrysler LLC, The Chrysler Foundation and Chrysler Financial team up with KaBOOM!, South Pointe Elementary School and local residents on building project -- Volunteers haul more than 64,800 square feet of mulch and mix more than 20,000 pounds of concrete by hand
PHOENIX, Dec. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Before the sun set today, the nearly 350
children who attend Phoenix's South Pointe Elementary School, The Leona Group,
LLC, a new kind of public school, are getting a new, great place to play.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081204/CLTH057-a )
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081204/CLTH057-b )
The new playground, which was fully assembled from scratch in less than
eight hours, was built with the help of more than 250 volunteers from the
Arizona Chrysler, Jeep(R) and Dodge Dealers; The Chrysler Foundation; Chrysler
Financial; the South Pointe Elementary School; organizers from KaBOOM! and
residents of the local community. Throughout the day, volunteers hauled more
than 64,800 square feet of mulch by hand in tarps, mixed approximately 20,000
pounds of concrete by hand in wheelbarrows and assembled brightly colored
playground equipment to bring the new play area to life.
"The Arizona Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge Dealers are proud to partner with
KaBOOM! and Chrysler to help promote their vision of having a safe and fun
play area within walking distance of every child," said Don Luke, President of
Bill Luke Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and President of the Arizona Chrysler, Jeep,
Dodge Dealer Association. "Our dealers and their employees play an important
role in their local communities, providing sponsorships and hundreds of
volunteer hours for school athletic teams, literacy programs, advocacy for
at-risk youth and many other causes. Many of our Arizona dealers and their
employees will be helping to make the playground at South Pointe Elementary
become a reality."
Planning for the playground began at a Design Day event held in October.
Local children and community leaders met with organizers from KaBOOM! and
Chrysler to design their "dream" playground. The children's drawings were used
to create the final playground design.
"We are so excited about the opportunity to have this wonderful playground
on our campus for our children. Play time is an integral part of the day for
our elementary students," said Tonya Bridges Brown, South Pointe Elementary
School Leader. "We would like to thank everyone who has been involved in
helping to make this dream become a reality, from the Leona Family to the
South Pointe Elementary family, from Chrysler and its dealers to the local
businesses and community members. We have all worked together to make this a
community project."
The project is the 21st of 22 playgrounds scheduled to be built across the
country this year by KaBOOM!, The Chrysler Foundation, and Chrysler, Jeep and
Dodge dealers. The playground is also one of more than 215 builds KaBOOM! will
lead across the country this year in an effort to provide an enjoyable place
to play within walking distance of every child in America.
The Leona Group
Founded in 1996, The Leona Group is one of the largest charter school
organizations in Arizona with 16 high schools, three middle schools and four
elementary schools in the Phoenix and Tucson metropolitan areas and a student
population of more than 6,500 students. The Leona Group is nationally
recognized for its commitment to a quality choice in public school education.
In addition to schools in Arizona, The Leona Group has over 80 schools in five
other states. The Leona Group is one of the largest education service
providers in the United States.
The Chrysler Foundation
The Chrysler Foundation is the primary source of charitable grants made by
Chrysler LLC. The Foundation annually supports hundreds of charitable
organizations with an emphasis on community growth and enrichment, arts and
culture, education, and youth development programs throughout the United
States and, increasingly, the world. The Foundation's Good Neighbor, Good
Citizen(R) programs make a positive, lasting investment in local communities
where our employees, customers and neighbors live. Visit
www.thechryslerfoundation.com .
Chrysler Financial
Chrysler Financial offers automotive financial products and services to
both dealers and consumers of Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles in the U.S.,
Canada, Mexico and Venezuela. In addition, it offers vehicle wholesale and
retail financing to more than 3,600 Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge dealers. Nearly
three million drivers in the United States enjoy the benefits of financing
with Chrysler Financial. Chrysler Financial has an employee base of 4,000 and
supports a global portfolio of $70 billion. For more information, visit
corp.chryslerfinancial.com .
KaBOOM!
KaBOOM! is a national non-profit organization that envisions a great place
to play within walking distance of every child in America. Since 1995, KaBOOM!
has used its innovative community-build model to bring together business and
community interests to construct more than 1,500 new playgrounds, skate parks,
sports fields and ice rinks across North America. KaBOOM! also offers a
variety of resources, including an online community, regional and national
trainings, grants, publications and the KaBOOM! National Campaign for Play,
which includes Playful City USA and the Playmaker Network -- a national
network of individual advocates for play. Headquartered in Washington, D.C.,
KaBOOM! also has offices in Chicago and San Mateo, Calif. For more
information, visit www.kaboom.org .
SOURCE Chrysler LLC
