Students at the Business, Entrepreneurship, Science & Technology (BEST) Academy, a charter school in Highland Park, Mich., now have a new place to swing, slide and play, courtesy of Chrysler LLC employees, Highland Park residents and the nonprofit organization KaBOOM!

Today, led by Chrysler Chairman and CEO Bob Nardelli -- with a hammer in one hand and a wrench in the other -- more than 250 volunteers built a state- of-the-art playground on the grounds of BEST Academy. The playground has everything the students wished for because they designed it themselves.

The new playground replaces an empty, asphalt lot and now provides a safe, new place to play for the 500 students at the school.

"If we want a world full of healthy, happy and successful adults, we need to be sure we create a world where kids can play," said Nardelli. "This new gym, designed by BEST students and built by our volunteers is a small part of our long-term commitment to support the regions where we have plants, employees and suppliers. Today is just the beginning of a new partnership with KaBOOM! I see many more playground-building events in Chrysler's future."

"KaBOOM! is committed to bringing play back to the schoolyard one playground at a time," said KaBOOM! CEO and Co-founder Darell Hammond. "Every child deserves a place to run, jump, have fun and just be a kid. We are proud to work with Chrysler to give the students at BEST Academy a great place to play."

"The students and staff at BEST Academy thank Chrysler and KaBOOM! for their initiative in rebuilding local playgrounds in areas that need them," said Principal Delria Crippen. "Supporting the positive development of our youth is critical, and is a process that affects the community in so many positive ways."

Planning for the playground began in October when BEST students and staff met with organizers from KaBOOM! and Chrysler to draw their "dream" playgrounds. The children's drawings were used to create the final playground designs. In addition to the new playgrounds, volunteers also will build benches and take part in landscaping projects.

Planning committees made up of teachers, parents and representatives from Chrysler and KaBOOM! planned the entire build project, including volunteer recruitment, site preparation and safety/logistics.

BEST Academy

BEST Academy is a pre-kindergarten through 8th grade, public charter school located in Highland Park, Mich. BEST Academy strives to make learning both interesting and fun -- it helps students look beyond the textbook pages - - to think creatively and strive to satisfy their natural curiosity. Children follow a "personalized learning plan" in a proven academic environment. Students explore their multi-cultural heritage in a setting that values individuals, families and the community. BEST's goal is to inspire, encourage, and challenge every student.



The Chrysler Foundation

Now in its 54th year, The Chrysler Foundation is the primary source of charitable grants made by Chrysler. The Foundation annually supports hundreds of charitable organizations with an emphasis on community growth and enrichment, education, arts and culture, public policy, youth development and disaster relief programs throughout the United States and, increasingly, the world. The Foundation's Good Neighbor, Good Citizen(R) programs make a positive, lasting investment in local communities where our employees, customers and neighbors live.



KaBOOM!

KaBOOM! is a national nonprofit 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 1,300 new playgrounds, skateparks, 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, D.C., KaBOOM! also has offices in Chicago, Atlanta and San Mateo, Calif.

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