About Playworks Pacific Northwest
All kids deserve the social, emotional, and physical benefits of play. We help schools and youth programs create healthy play environments where every child can join in.
Meet Playworks Pacific Northwest
Founded in 1996, Playworks expanded to Pacific Northwest in 2009. Playworks Pacific Northwest serves low-income schools across the Portland metro area through our year-round, on-site support services. We’re also reaching thousands more students across Pacific Northwest through professional development workshops for schools and youth organizations.
Our Mission
Playworks’ mission is to improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play.
Our Vision
Playworks’ vision is that one day every child in America will have access to safe, fun, healthy play every day.
Our Core Values
Meet Our People
March 12, 2024
Marie DeShetler ›
Meet Marie, a Bay Area native and proud alumna of the University of California, Santa Cruz with a B.A. in Sociology and Feminist Studies. For over a decade, she’s been…
July 12, 2023
Samuel Sorscher ›
Sam was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and moved to Portland to attend Lewis & Clark College. He graduated with a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Hispanic Studies. It was…
January 20, 2023
Kerryann Tomlinson ›
Kerryann Tomlinson (she/her) is the Vice President for Field Operations, supporting a multi-region HUB including Arizona, Colorado, PacNW and Utah. In 2018, she joined Playworks as Executive Director for the…