This letter arrive at Playworks earlier this school year:
When Playworks came to our school, it changed Gabriel's world.
Gabriel is my son. He's 11 years old. Since he was 5, Gabriel was picked on and bullied, because he was stout and not very athletic. He was extremely intimidated at school and especially at recess.
I know how much this hurt him because I've been on yard duty at my son's school since he was in kindergarten. My heart sank every day as he sat on the sidelines at recess, unwilling to play.
Then Playworks and Coach Michelle arrived. The first week of school I saw her try to get Gabriel to play. But he wouldn't budge.
Then one day just as I saw him shaking his head "no" at Coach Michelle, he suddenly stood up and walked with her out to the playground. That day he only watched the other kids playing as he stood right next to Coach Michelle. But in a few days, with her gentle encouragement, he started playing too.
I wanted to cry when I saw the other kids and my son playing together. The other kids weren't laughing and teasing him any more. They were all giving him high fives and saying "Nice try, Gabriel!"
You should have seen the smile on my son's face.
And the change in him has stuck. He's happier AND healthier. He's motivated to go to school, to socialize, and as a result, his grades have improved. And now, a year later, his newest dram is to become a Playworks Junior Coach.
As a mom, I want the best for my kids. I want to protect them. Gabriel could have been left sitting on the sidelines. But thanks to Playworks, he was included.
Some day Gabriel's going to do something amazing in his life. You must know that Playworks and Coach Michelle were a big part of making that happen. Your commitment to making it possible for every kid to play every day is making an enormous difference in the life of my child. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Julie Portales
Help Playworks raise $300,000 across the nation by December 31 so we can make recess fun and inclusive for all children in our schools for the rest of the school year. You can help us cross the finish line!
A gift of $35 will provide one Playbook with 400+ games to a school.
