Fairytale Brownies & KBOOM! Make Dreams Come True.
More than 200 volunteers from Fairytale Brownies (@ftbrownies), Arizona Autism Charter School (@AZAutismCharter), organizers from KABOOM! (@kaboom) and the community will join forces on Friday, March 31 to build students a much-needed playground at the Arizona Autism Charter School. The playground design is based on the children’s “dream playground” created at a special design event in January.
Friday, March 31
8:30 - 9am
Kick-off ceremony
11:00 – 1pm
Best viewing of playground construction
1 - 2:30pm
Final construction phase
2:30 - 3pm
Ribbon-cutting ceremony (Morning show live shots available upon request)
Arizona Autism Charter School
1445 E. Indian School Rd.
Phoenix, AZ 85014
Hundreds of community volunteers (VIPs and dignitaries to be announced soon)
“As Arizona’s first tuition-free charter school focused on children with autism, having a fun and engaging playground is critical to facilitate social opportunities and encourage development,” said Diana Diaz-Harrison, founder and executive director of Arizona Autism Charter Schools. “While these abilities may come naturally to typically developing students, children on the autism spectrum need specific goals, strategies and equipment to develop and grow in these areas. We look forward to watching our students blossom while playing on this amazing new playground!”
Since 1996, KABOOM! has been dedicated to the bold goal of giving all kids – particularly those growing up in poverty in America – the childhood they deserve, filled with balanced and active play, so they can thrive. With its partners, KABOOM! has built, improved and opened nearly 16,700 playgrounds, engaged more than one million volunteers, and served 8.5 million kids (#playmatters).
A playground is more than a playground. It’s a brain-expander, friend-maker, and muscle-builder. Play is central to a child’s ability to grow into a productive adult. It can transform children from sedentary, bored and solitary to physically, mentally and socially active.
The playground is the second built by Fairytale Brownies and KABOOM!. Through this partnership, more children will have the joyful childhood they deserve. Since 2001, Fairytale Brownies has supported KABOOM! in promoting and protecting a child’s right to active play at home, at school and in the community. Fairytale Brownies co-founders Eileen Spitalny and David Kravetz met on the kindergarten playground, and know from experience that a simple glide down the slide can spark a lifetime of friendship. As the company celebrates 25 years in business, providing the community a great place to play is the perfect way to mark the occasion.
Before and after pictures and video
Volunteers assembling, carrying, and installing brightly colored playground equipment
Volunteers moving more than 1,200 square feet of safety surfacing by hand
Ribbon-cutting ceremony to dedicate the playground
About Arizona Autism Charter School
Arizona Autism Charter School (AZACS) opened in the fall
of 2014 as the state’s first tuition-free, public charter school focused on students with autism.
Our mission is to educate students with autism and related disorders using evidence-based strategies
grounded in the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). The goal is to make this educational option
accessible and tuition-free to students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the state of Arizona and beyond. Visit www.autismcharter.org to learn more.
About Fairytale Brownies
Fairytale Brownies is a mail order brownie company whose mission has been to simplify gift giving since baking brownies began in 1992.
Every batch is made by hand using a 55-year-old secret family recipe. The brownies, cookies and bars are all natural, baked with the finest
ingredients such as chocolate, farm fresh eggs, pure creamery butter, and brown sugar. Each brownie, cookie and bar is individually
wrapped and certified kosher for dairy. Fairytale Brownies gifts are shipped worldwide. Our Fairytale family is growing socially –
share your #brownielove at www.facebook.com/fairytalebrownies or www.twitter.com/ftbrownies or www.instagram/ftbrownies.
About KABOOM!
KABOOM! is the national non-profit dedicated to giving all kids – particularly those growing up in poverty in America –
the childhood they deserve filled with balanced and active play, so they can thrive. Since 1996, KABOOM! has collaborated
with partners to build, open, or improve more than 16,700 playgrounds, engaged more than one million volunteers, and served
8.5 million kids. KABOOM! creates great places to play, inspires communities to promote and support play, and works to drive
the national discussion about the importance of play in fostering healthy and productive lives. To learn why #playmatters and
why cities are embracing #playability: visit kaboom.org or join the conversation at twitter.com/kaboom or facebook.com/kaboom.
