Oakland, CA – Playworks Northern California, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play, today announced it has received a $25,000 grant from the U.S. Bank Foundation. The funding will be used to support over 17,000 students across 41 schools in the Greater San Francisco Bay Area. Together, we are making it possible for more kids to have greater access to play as a vehicle for increased physical and social emotional wellbeing.
“Creating equitable opportunities for our community requires resources, and we appreciate the support from the U.S. Bank Foundation, which helps us continue to build and expand the innovative programs we’re proud to offer,” said Laura Medina Quintanar, executive director for Playworks Northern California.
Playworks Northern California offers solutions to schools and community organizations to address the inequitable access to play and to create active and thriving communities. With services that range from direct in-school support to professional development and even a digital learning platform, Playworks’ goal is for every kid to have access to safe, fun, healthy play every day.
93% of educators agree that Playworks helps increase the number of students that are physically active and 95 % of educators agree that Playworks helps improve the school climate.
“All of us deserve to experience the joy we receive from opportunities to play, create and immerse in arts and culture. We’re proud to invest in organizations like Playworks Northern California to help more people access the benefits of active play and make our communities stronger and more vibrant,” said Leena R Paxinos, community affairs manager at U.S. Bank.
Laura echoed this sentiment sharing, “this funding will support a more playful ecosystem for children of Northern California and will bolster our ability to reach many more kids in our region. We are immensely thankful to the U.S. Bank Foundation for believing in the power of play to bring out the best in every kid.”
U.S. Bank is committed to powering human potential and creating lasting change in communities. The bank does this through the Community Possible platform, including philanthropy, community investments and team member volunteerism.
For more information about Playworks Northern California and its programs, visit www.playworks.org/northern-california/
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About Playworks: Playworks is the leading nonprofit leveraging the power of play to transform children’s social and emotional health. Through direct-service coaching of kids and training for school staff, Playworks partners with elementary schools, districts, and after-school programs to integrate games into recess to create a welcoming place for every child on the playground. With an emphasis on social-emotional learning and skill-building, students feel included while being active and developing valuable skills needed to thrive in the classroom and beyond. Playworks is ensuring that kids experience safe and healthy play every day. During the 2023-2024 school year, the nonprofit supported over 17,000 kids in Northern California through the power of play. For more information, https://www.playworks.org.
Contact: Beth Eisen, Head of Marketing & Communications, Playworks. Beth.Eisen@Playworks.org. 510-844-7615.
