In April, Playworks embarked on an exciting partnership with Kohl’s, helping to put their Associates In Action program to work for our school partners. In cooperation with Jennifer Kelly, a recruiter for Kohl’s credit division, we created a unique opportunity that met not only the needs of Playworks but also met Kohl’s community impact goals. What emerged was a true Playworks experience that got Kohl’s associates on the playground, helping with recess, and impacting almost 800 kids through play.
On April 21, Jenni Kelly and a group of six colleagues joined Coach Kevin at Hawthorne School on Milwaukee’s northside for recess and class game time. The team met with Program Manager Atoi Sinclair, got a rundown on what games mean to Playworks, and were sent out to recess. Coincidentally, it was also National High Five Day, and one Junior Coach estimated that he collected over 60 in one recess shift that day!
Our friends at Kohl’s returned again on May 11, this time at Story School on the city’s westside. Coach Maryann and Program Manager Maddy Wilson hosted another seven Associates in Action and they were all smiles.
When asked what stood out to them about their experience, one associate said, “I felt happier and wanted to play the fun games with my own kids. [I] loved the positivity and team support. [I] want to bring that back to my work team as well.”
Kohl’s Associated in Action is a valuable partner with Playworks. Their volunteers have helped at recess, aided in class game time, and also provided critical grant dollars to support our operations. Thank you Kohl’s!
We are thankful for all the people who make our work possible. Please join us in our aim to reach 100,000 kids in 10 Wisconsin school districts by December 2020. We invite you to be a partner in play, transforming the lives of kids through the power of play.
