Chrysler LLC, Mississippi Hurricane Recovery Fund, Gulf Coast Community Foundation, City of Pascagoula and KaBOOM! to Build New Child-Designed Playground at 12th Street Recreation Center in Pascagoula, Miss., in One Day

-- More than 200 representatives from Chrysler LLC, The Chrysler Foundation and Chrysler Financial team up with KaBOOM!, City of Pascagoula, Mississippi Hurricane Recovery Fund, Gulf Coast Community Foundation and local residents on building project

-- Volunteers haul more than 77,760 square feet of mulch and mix more than 21,600 pounds of concrete by hand

-- Playground is the 22nd to be built nationwide in 2008 by Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge dealers, Chrysler LLC, KaBOOM! and community partners

Before the sun set today, the more than 1,000 children who play at Pascagoula's 12th Street Recreation Center every year are getting a great 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 200 volunteers from The Chrysler Foundation, Chrysler Financial, the City of Pascagoula, the Mississippi Hurricane Recovery Fund, Gulf Coast Community Foundation, organizers from KaBOOM! and residents of the local community. Throughout the day, volunteers hauled more than 77,760 square feet of mulch by hand in tarps, mixed approximately 21,600 pounds of concrete by hand in wheelbarrows and assembled brightly colored playground equipment to bring the new play area to life.

Planning for the playground began at a Design Day event held in October. 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.

"The City of Pascagoula has long been known as Mississippi's Flagship City. And now, thanks to all of the partners in this project, Pascagoula will have another flagship playground for the children of our community," said Darcie Crew, Pascagoula Parks & Recreation Director. "The playground at the 12th Street Recreation Center serves not only the Girls' Softball League, but the children throughout the neighborhood surrounding the complex. Pascagoula is proud to have this opportunity to enhance this playground as the city continues to promote healthy, exciting recreational options to benefit our children."

The project is the 22nd playground to be built across the country this year by KaBOOM!, The Chrysler Foundation, and Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge dealers. The playground is also one of more than 215 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.

Gulf Coast Community Foundation

The Mississippi Hurricane Recovery Fund, administered by the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, is pleased to play a role in rebuilding efforts along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Individuals on this project are working side by side with neighbors and friends to make a difference and create a site that will be used by kids, both young and old, for many years to come.

The Mississippi Hurricane Recovery Fund

The Mississippi Hurricane Recovery Fund was established by Governor Barbour days after Hurricane Katrina made landfall. Mississippi Hurricane Recovery Fund Board Members hosted the Mississippi Rising concert in November 2006, and were also recipients of Mississippi's portion of the Bush Clinton Katrina Fund. Between the concert, Bush Clinton Katrina Fund and other private donations, the MHRF raised in excess of $32 million.

The City of Pascagoula

The town of Pascagoula merged with the town of Scranton in 1904 creating the City of Pascagoula. The City of Pascagoula, with a population of 26,000, has long been known as Mississippi's Flagship City, where ships are built that have defended the United States for over a century. Pascagoula is a community that works hard, yet can pause to take in the splendor of its beautiful surroundings. The city is forward thinking, yet anchored in its 300 year history. Pascagoula continues America's proud maritime heritage along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Pascagoula Parks and Recreation

The City of Pascagoula's Parks and Recreation Department was created approximately 40 years ago to provide quality recreation and facilities for the citizens. The department's vision is to provide recreational opportunities throughout the city for the citizens, as well as to provide a safe, healthy, and exciting environment for all age groups.

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 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 http://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 www.kaboom.org .