Foresters and community partners volunteer to build new playground for Sidener Academy
Foresters and community partners volunteer to build new playground for Sidener Academy
Providing more than 3,700 children a safe accessible environment for 15 years
Indianapolis, IN, October 17, 2009 – Sidener Academy for High Ability Students has a brand new playground today thanks to a coordinated effort of 200 volunteers from ForestersTM , students, teachers and the community who erected the facility. This playground will serve the children of the community where previously there was none. Rev. Michael D. Brown, President, Indianapolis Public School Board; School Commissioner Bentley of the City of Indianapolis and Principal James Whisler joined Lynn Haight, Senior Vice President, Foresters, in acknowledging the tremendous contribution made by all the volunteers.
"Foresters is thrilled to provide the children of this community with a wonderful new park where they can play and spend quality family time together," said Lynn Haight . "This is another excellent example of team spirit and of Foresters purpose coming to life. Foresters champions the well-being of families by investing in the communities where our members live and by providing opportunities for our members, our agents and staff to help make a difference."
Foresters, a member-based life insurance provider with members throughout Indiana, funded and organized the playground build with KaBOOM!, local parents, Sidener Academy and Indianapolis Public Schools This is the last of six playgrounds in the U.S. that Foresters is funding and organizing with KaBOOM! this year. In its 135th anniversary year, Foresters has invested close to $500,000 to provide playgrounds where children and their parents can spend quality time together playing, learning and having fun.
Before the first hole was dug in the ground, children from the Sidener Academy helped design the playground of their dreams.
"This project demonstrates what can be done by the combined efforts from students, parents, staff, and the private sector. It represents the culmination of many hours of collaboration directed to positively impact the well-being of our young people," said James Whisler, Sidener Academy. "We are deeply indebted to all those who gave so generously of their time and resources."
The new playground is nearly 4,000 square feet in size and includes adaptive swing seats, crazy bones bridge, glide slide, inclined cliff hanger, ribbon climber, rockblocks climber, slither slide, steering wheel panel, tire swing, transfer station vertical adventure tube. With a duration expectancy range from 15 to 20 years, the playground has the capacity to serve approximately 3,700 children in its lifetime.
Foresters investment in this playground extends beyond the work completed on build day. Foresters volunteers and the community have made a commitment to maintain the playground to ensure it is available for subsequent generations of parents and children.
About Sidener Academy for High Ability Students
Sidener Academy for High Ability Students (IPS#59) serves 250 academically advanced students in grades 2 – 6. IPS, the state's largest school system, offers more educational choices than any other Indiana school district. To learn more about IPS,
visit www.ips.k12.in.us.
About KaBOOM!
KaBOOM! is a national non-profit organization that envisions a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America. Since 1995, KaBOOM! has used its innovative community-build model to bring together business and community interests to construct more than 1,700 new playgrounds, skate parks, sports fields and ice rinks across North America. KaBOOM! also offers a variety of resources, including an online community, regional and national trainings, grants, publications and the KaBOOM! National Campaign for Play, which includes Playful City USA and the Playmaker Network – a national network of individual advocates for play. Headquartered in Washington, DC, KaBOOM! also has offices in Chicago, IL and San Mateo, CA. For more information, visit www.kaboom.org.
About Foresters
Founded in 1874 as a fraternal benefit society, ForestersTM champions the well-being of families through quality life insurance, unique member benefits and inspiring community activities. Foresters shares its financial strength with more than 650,000 members in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Unity Life of Canada, a wholly owned subsidiary of Foresters, represents Foresters in Canada. Foresters is celebrating its 135th anniversary in 2009. For more information, please visit www.foresters.com.
ForestersTM is a trademark of The Independent Order of Foresters, a fraternal benefit society, Toronto, Canada M3C 1T9.
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Last Modified:
Oct 17, 2009
406422 CAN/US (10/09)
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