Volunteers from The Home Depot and members of AmeriCorps*NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps) will join volunteers from the Highland community on Tuesday, May 25 to construct a new playground in just one day for the students at Bryant Webster K-8 School. The playground, made possible by a partnership between The Home Depot, AmeriCorps*NCCC, Denver Public Schools, community volunteers and organizers from KaBOOM!, will give the 380 students who attend the school and others who live in the neighborhood a new place to play.

"The process KABOOM! utilizes to bring together schools, businesses, parents, communities and elementary students is wonderful. This playground stands as a symbol of collaboration and synergy which will mean a lot more to our school and community than just a place to swing and slide,” said Pat Salazar, Bryant Webster K-8 School principal.

“Our students and parents are so excited that they were able to be a part of the design process,” Salazar added. “It makes us all feel special that so many people were willing to help. We've met some wonderful, thoughtful and helpful people through this partnership with KaBOOM!, The Home Depot, AmeriCorps*NCCC, and within our own Denver Public Schools system. To all we say, "Mil gracias," a thousand thanks!”

The playground design was created with input from students in the community who attended a “Design Day” event at the school in March. Students at Bryant Webster K-8 School will watch as the new play area based on their drawings - complete with fanciful slides and colorful swings - will be constructed all in one day.

“Having built more than 150 playgrounds nationwide with our Home Depot associates, we know what a positive impact community play areas have on our students,” said Robert Hammack, Home Depot regional vice president. “We are excited to celebrate the tenth anniversary of AmeriCorps*NCCC with this build, and show the power of community service in action.”

This playground is possible through an ongoing partnership between The Home Depot, the nation’s largest home improvement retailer, and KaBOOM!, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to building safe play spaces in communities across the country. As a national sponsor of KaBOOM!, The Home Depot provides financial support, materials and numerous volunteers. By the end of 2004, The Home Depot will have built and funded 250 KaBOOM! playground projects.

“I can’t think of a better way to mark AmeriCorps*NCCC’s decade of results than by building this new playground,” said David Eisner, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service, which administers AmeriCorps. “We’re grateful to KaBOOM! and The Home Deport for their support. This playground is symbolic of the exceptional contribution that AmeriCorps*NCCC members have made to improving our communities and country over the past 10 years.”

The playground build kicks off a special Legacy Weekend commemorating AmeriCorps*NCCC’s 10th Anniversary. This year, AmeriCorps*NCCC is recognizing a decade of achievement and the ongoing service commitment of its 10,000 alumni with Legacy Weekend service projects in its five campus communities: Denver, CO; Sacramento, CA; Perry Point, MD; Charleston, SC; and Washington, DC. Each Legacy Weekend will include a playground build in the campus community in collaboration with The Home Depot and KaBOOM!.

“This playground Build Day is a community celebration with a clear-cut purpose - to give the students who live here a great place to play, to be fit and strong, and to call their own. The people here in Denver have been great and KaBOOM! is excited to be a part of this project with The Home Depot, especially as it marks a milestone in the AmeriCorps*NCCC program,” said Darell Hammond, KaBOOM! CEO and founder.

Bryant-Webster is located at 3635 Quivas St. The school’s phone number is 303-433-3336. For more information, contact Kathryn Gallagher, The Home Depot, 714-940-3696; Sarah Pinsky, KaBOOM!, 312-822-5871; or Heather Roper, AmeriCorps*NCCC, 303-844-7420.