RICHMOND, Va. -

The results of a new partnership announced by CarMax won’t be seen on the lots. Instead, the launch of a $4.1 million national partnership between The CarMax Foundation and national nonprofit KaBOOM will build playgrounds.

CarMax late last week said the project will result in 30 playgrounds across the U.S. by the end of 2015, benefitting 100,000 children and working toward the KaBOOM vision of providing a place to play within walking distance of every American child.

To celebrate the coast-to-coast launch of the partnership, more than 400 volunteers simultaneously built two new playgrounds last week in Richmond, Va. and Los Angeles.

The CarMax Foundation is celebrating its 10-year anniversary in 2013 with an associate-directed focus on children’s healthy living. The partnership with KaBOOM is launching during CarMax Cares Month, the annual height of associate volunteerism.

“CarMax has a strong culture of integrity, teamwork and taking care of each other. It’s our culture of caring for others that has drawn our associates to the issue of children’s healthy living,” said Lynn Mussatt, president of The CarMax Foundation and CarMax vice president of business operations.

“Our associates across the country will impact countless families by helping get kids moving and playing,” Mussatt said. 

“Associates who volunteered at past KaBOOM and Foundation builds in Los Angeles and Nashville left the experience energized and inspired,” said Damon Devins, CarMax location general manager in Buena Park, Calif., and KaBOOM volunteer. “The true reward for all of us involved will be seeing children playing on these playgrounds for years to come.”

Beyond the 30 nationwide community-built playgrounds, designed by children and built by volunteers from local partners and thousands of CarMax associates, other goals of the three-year partnership are to eradicate “play deserts,” or areas without enough places to play, and the donation of 11 Imagination Playgrounds by The Foundation to select partner organizations, featuring reconfigurable parts for children to design their own playground.

In the next year, The Foundation and KaBOOM tour will include playground builds in Baltimore; Chicago; Kansas City, Mo.; Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Phoenix; Dallas; and Atlanta. Nonprofit partners are being sought for these builds.  

“Play is disappearing across the country, but partnerships like this one with The CarMax Foundation will help give kids the childhood they deserve,” said Darell Hammond, founder and chief exectuive officer of KaBOOM. “Kids need to play actively every day, at home, in schools and in communities. We are grateful to The CarMax Foundation and their commitment to play for children of all ages.”
 

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