Detroit-Area Children Get a New Child-Designed Playground at Josefiak Playlot in One Day Courtesy of the Chrysler Foundation, Chrysler Financial, Motor City Dodge Dealers, Chrysler Jeep(R)Superstores, KaBOOM! and the Detroit Community Initiative

-- More than 250 representatives from the Motor City Dodge Dealers, Chrysler Jeep(R) Superstores, Chrysler LLC, The Chrysler Foundation and Chrysler Financial team up with KaBOOM!, the Detroit Community Initiative and local residents on building project

-- Volunteers haul more than 64,800 square feet of mulch and mix more than 20,000 pounds of concrete by hand

-- Playground is the last of four to be built in Metro Detroit in the past 12 months

-- Playground is the 18th of 23 scheduled to be built nationwide in 2008 by Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge dealers, Chrysler LLC, KaBOOM! and community partners


Before the sun set today, the hundreds of children who frequent the Josefiak Playlot in Detroit every day are getting a new place to play.

The new playground, which was fully assembled from scratch in less than eight hours, was built with the help of more than 250 volunteers from the Motor City Dodge Dealers; Chrysler Jeep(R) Superstores; The Chrysler Foundation; Chrysler Financial; the Detroit Community Initiative (DCI); organizers from KaBOOM! and residents of the local community. Throughout the day, volunteers hauled more than 64,800 square feet of mulch by hand in tarps, mixed approximately 20,000 pounds of concrete by hand in wheelbarrows and assembled brightly colored playground equipment to bring the new play area to life.

The Josefiak playground is the last of four playgrounds to be built in the Detroit area in the past 12 months and represents a continuation of the revitalization of the area surrounding the park and neighboring communities. Playgrounds were also built in Highland Park (Nov. 10, 2007), Sterling Heights (July 19) and Pontiac (Aug. 14).

"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 Darryl Jackson, Chief Operating Officer, Chrysler Financial. "Chrysler Financial is proud to partner with the Chrysler Foundation, the Motor City Dodge Dealers, the Chrysler Jeep Superstores and KaBOOM! to build the fourth playground in Metro Detroit. And now with the support of the Detroit Community Initiative, we will create a place that will bring children and families back to this deserving area of Detroit."

Planning for the playground began at a Design Day event held in September. Local children and community leaders met with organizers from KaBOOM! and Chrysler to design their "dream" playground. The children's drawings were used to create the final playground design.

"In 2004, DCI adopted the Josefiak Playlot because we saw the need to create more recreation opportunities for the children living in the neighborhood," said Mike Fisher, President and CEO, DCI. "KaBOOM!, the Chrysler Foundation and affiliates are making our dreams a reality. This project will help us build on our overall goal of improving the city's eastside."

The Josefiak Playlot project is the 18th of 23 playgrounds scheduled to be built across the country this year by KaBOOM!, The Chrysler Foundation, and Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge dealers nationwide. The playground is also one of more than 225 builds KaBOOM! will lead across the country this year in an effort to provide an enjoyable place to play within walking distance of every child in America.

Detroit Community Initiative (DCI)

Founded in 1995, DCI is a non-profit organization whose mission is to design, implement and collaborate with others to provide a comprehensive series of programs in such fields as neighborhood economic restoration, resource referral assistance for families, youth development and community education. The organization has been at the forefront of Detroit's eastside revitalization, helping secure nearly $200 million in economic development.

The Chrysler Foundation

The Chrysler Foundation is the primary source of charitable grants made by Chrysler LLC. The Foundation annually supports hundreds of charitable organizations with an emphasis on community growth and enrichment, arts and culture, education, and youth development 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. Visit http://www.thechryslerfoundation.com .

Chrysler Financial

Chrysler Financial offers automotive financial products and services to both dealers and consumers of Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Venezuela. In addition, it offers vehicle wholesale and retail financing to more than 3,600 Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge dealers. Nearly three million drivers in the United States enjoy the benefits of financing with Chrysler Financial. Chrysler Financial has an employee base of 4,000 and supports a global portfolio of $70 billion. For more information, visit corp.chryslerfinancial.com .

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 1,500 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, D.C., KaBOOM! also has offices in Chicago and San Mateo, Calif. For more information, visit http://www.kaboom.org .