Playworks Portland is pleased to announce it received a $150,000 two-year grant from the KEEN Footwear Hybrid.Care program. The funds will be used to help inspire play and physical activity in the business community and raise awareness about Playworks’ efforts in the extended community.
As part of the two-year grant, Playworks will provide Corporate Recess to businesses across the country, including Portland, Denver, Milwaukee, Philadelphia and Durham (NC), engaging adults in active play and providing opportunities for them to volunteer in Playworks schools.
“Beyond our day-to-day work in low-income schools, our vision is that all children have the opportunity to play every day,” says Playworks Portland Executive Director Jonathan Blasher. “We have found that by engaging adults in healthy and meaningful play, they better understand its benefits and are more inclined to support the movement to realize our vision. KEEN Hybrid.Care’s grant allows us to reach out more deeply into businesses that can actively connect more adults to the movement.”
As part of the grant agreement, KEEN Hybrid.Care will fund Corporate Recess for at least 30 businesses in up to four cities around the country in addition to Portland, providing more than 1,000 adults with two hours of recess through play-based team-building and community engagement activities. Corporate Recess participants will also be equipped and encouraged to volunteer at local Playworks schools.
“One of our goals at KEEN is to bring recess back to adults and kids around the world,” says KEEN Care and Community Manager Chris Enlow. “We are happy to be able to support that mission with our donation to the Playworks Corporate Recess program helping kids and adults across the country get outside and active in what will surely be a memorable and invigorating experience.”
The Corporate Recess project is expected to begin in April. Companies interested in participating can apply to the project through the Playworks website beginning in March.
