BNSF News

BNSF Foundation Supports KaBOOM!

2007-11-15

Who doesn’t have fond childhood memories of playing at a neighborhood park? But, sadly, many concrete-bound cities lack places for children to play. Playground Build aims to change that.

An old-fashioned barn raising -- with an urban twist -- Playground Build has a goal to create and refurbish 1,000 play spaces in 1,000 days, thanks to KaBOOM, a national nonprofit organization that envisions a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America. BNSF has been supporting KaBOOM for four years. 

Through a combination of grants, including a $25,000 donation from the BNSF Foundation, KaBOOM recently helped oversee and organize a playground installation at University Community Academy (UCA), an Atlanta charter school located in an underserved community. The state-of-the-art, 2,500-square-foot playground was built in one day thanks to an army of 100 volunteers from UCA and the community, as well as 200 volunteer associates from The Home Depot, a founding partner of KaBOOM

Jarred Howard, BNSF manager, Sales, Intermodal IMC Marketing, who works with The Home Depot, says the BNSF Foundation donation is being put to good use and was greatly appreciated by KaBOOM. "This is a great organization, which believes that, together, by pursuing smaller common goals -- a playground, skatepark or field complex − the well-being of children can be achieved," says Howard.

Pictured (from left) Jarred Howard, BNSF manager, Sales, Intermodal IMC Marketing, presents the BNSF Foundation check to Eric Scholar, director of transportation for The Home Depot.

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For more information on the company and its transportation solutions, visit the BNSF Web site at www.bnsf.com