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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

200 Volunteers Improve San Jose Kids' Lives & Futures with Play

Partners Join Forces to Create a New Playground at Hester School

Friday, April 28, 2017; 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Photo/Interview Opportunities Available

WHAT: More than 200 volunteers from Target (@TargetNews), Santa Clara County Office of Education (@SCCOE), organizers from KaBOOM! (@kaboom) and the community will join forces on Friday, April 28 to give area kids the childhood they deserve by building a new playground at Hester School. The design is based on children’s drawings created at a special design event in February.  
 
WHEN: Friday, April 28, 2017 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Kick-off ceremony 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Best viewing of playground construction 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Final construction phase   2:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Ribbon-cutting ceremony   (Times approximate)  

WHERE: Hester School 1460 The Alameda San Jose, CA 95126

WHO: Hundreds of community volunteers Jon R. Gundry, Santa Clara County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Jeanette Rodriguez-Chien, Chief Academic Officer Darcie Green, SCCOE Board Member

WHY: A playground is more than a playground. It’s a brain-expander, friend-maker and muscle-builder. Play is central to a kid’s ability to grow into a productive adult. It can transform children from sedentary, bored and solitary to physically, mentally and socially active. 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).
The new playground will bring more than 120 kids in San Jose one step closer to having the play-filled childhood they deserve. In building this play space together, we are making it easier for all kids to get balanced and active play and making San Jose more playful.
One of the goals of the SCCOE is to improve student equity and access to high quality education. Hester School serves students with disabilities, as well as students who are medically fragile, and the addition of this playground will improve access to play, which allows children to develop a variety of physical, cognitive and emotional skills.
The playground is the 24th built by Target and KaBOOM!. Partnering with KaBOOM! is part of Target’s ongoing efforts to help make wellness more affordable, accessible and inspirational for its team members, guests and communities. Through this partnership, more children will have the joyful childhood they deserve.

VISUALS:  Before and after shots 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 the SCCOE

The Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE) is a regional service agency that provides instructional and business services to the 31 school districts of Santa Clara County. The SCCOE serves students through special education programs, alternative schools, Head Start and State Preschool programs, migrant education, and Opportunity Youth Academy. The Office also provides curriculum support, staff development, and technology support and training directly to teachers and staff in schools countywide.

About Target

Minneapolis-based Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) serves guests at 1,792 stores and at Target.com. Since 1946, Target has given 5 percent of its profit to communities, which today equals more than $4 million a week. For more information, visit Target.com/Pressroom. For a behind-the-scenes look at Target, visit Target.com/abullseyeview or follow @TargetNews on Twitter

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.