FULL
Hosted by Karrie Kohlhaas in Seattle, Washington
Type: Other
When: Friday, July 17 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Fee: Free
676 views
Update: We have over 280 volunteers! WOW! Thanks to bizniks for inviting friends and family and to the Delridge and West Seattle Community for getting the word out. We cannot take any more registrations. Everyone who is on this list is IN and we are ready to build that playground! Woo hoo! It's going to be a blast!
Hey guys, this community needs our help.
On July 17th, let's come together to build a new playground in the Delridge neighborhood in West Seattle. 200+ volunteers will help one of the city's most historically under-invested neighborhoods provide a better playground for the kids in Delridge--and it all happens in one day! You can be part of it.
This is a KaBOOM! project (yes, like the one that Michelle Obama and Maria Shriver participated in recently in San Francisco). All the equipment has been donated--slides, swings, a rock climbing wall, you name it!--and all we need are hands to help.
I urge you to watch this inspirational video about KaBOOM! KaBOOM! has been building playgrounds in under-served communities across the country for 14 years. Their vision is to have great places for kids to play within walking distance of their homes, and they do this by enlisting the help of communities and people like us from around the country.
You do NOT have to be skilled, trained or have any special tools; you just have to be enthusiastic, energetic, a team player, willing to work, and willing to have fun along the way.
Getting volunteers for this has been more challenging than other KaBOOM! projects because the event happens on a Friday. I promised I would get the word out because I know all these amazing entrepreneurs with big hearts--you!--who have control over their schedules and can take a Friday "off" to help kids have a better childhood.
Come give a few hours or a full day and you'll get... breakfast, lunch, drinks, music and some serious fun!
TOGETHER we’ll build a new playground for the neighborhood in just 6 hours, starting at 8 a.m. Rain or shine, nothing is going to stop this momentum.
To register or for more information, email: helpdelridgeplay@gmail.com or call Chris at 206.499.3733
Please register as soon as possible so we can make sure we have all the volunteers we need. Kids are welcome to participate!
Spread the word about this! We need about 100 more volunteers to sign up by July 3rd.
If you've been to any of the bizjam events, this is across the street from the Youngstown Cultural Center. There is a request that we carpool, so we can organize that here on this thread. Also bring your own water bottle as this is an event committed to using fewer resources to make a positive impact.
I'll be there until noon at least unless work intrudes. With this much advance notice, I'll likely be able to keep the time free.
This is a worthy project. I hope you can get a good Biznik turnout. Is there a Biznik who could get some good press for the project and Biznik?
Hey, this is happening right in my neighborhood! Unfortunately, I will have left for work at that time.
Kudos to you for supporting this through Biznik Karrie! :)
I worked on a WaMu sponsored KaBOOM playground build last summer for Leschi Elementary school. It was an amazing event--so much fun to participate with a team of worker bees to create--in one afternoon--something that will bring pleasure to kids for years and years!
If you're reading this, don't hesitate! Join the fun!!
What an amazing idea and in a much deserved community! I love my W/Seattle 'hood and am going to be there with bells on. I'll spread the word to folks who aren't on biznik as well!
Thanks Karrie!!
John, I've got media liaison, Jenée Arthur working on getting some attention for this. So happy you can join us!
Banu, Would love to see you, but since you cannot make it, can you help us spread the word in your 'hood?
Katie, so great to read your testimonial for this event. This is so exciting to see everyone jumping in--just posted this late last night!
Sylvia, thrilled you can make it too! Yes, spread the word and please include this in your West Seattle Group mailings each week.
Hey you guys, I am feeling teary just thinking of what a cool community we have here. Thanks for not hesitating and getting involved. This is going to be a real bonding experience for bizniks.
Hi Kerrie,
My partner, Cindy Weeks and I will be there! This is similar to the annual Hearts and Hammers event here on Whidbey Island. In one day hundreds of volunteers do repairs on homes of people in need. We walk away with a wonderful feeling of having contributed to something very special - I'm sure this will have the same effect. Thanks for making this happen and John thanks for pinging us on this!
Wow! My friends, Don and Cindy, are coming from Whidbey Island for this event. Thanks D&C.
Here's a challenge for all of you Bizniks reading about this event. I'll buy lunch at a mutually agreeable time and place for the person who comes the furthest. So far, it's Don and Cindy. Any challengers?
John, you are THE COOLEST CAT on biznik. I love your challenge. I wonder who will win lunch.
Be sure that Don and Cindy RSVP here and that they contact Chris at helpdelridgeplay@gmail.com or call Chris at 206.499.3733 for the official RSVP.
Whoo hoo. I love you guys.
Welcome to the group, Ann!
I'm thrilled to assist with press connections as well as get my hands dirty on the big day! Thanks, Karrie, for your unwavering commitment to all Seattle communities. You are an amazing example of the people who keep communities successful and thriving! Cheers to you!
Found out today that we need some more help on this! When I got involved there were about 4 volunteers doing the job of 20! Here's what we now need (in addition to more people to help on build day with the main task of building the playground):
ENTERTAINMENT (musicians, fire dancers, that sort of thing...and I would love it if someone would contact some of the magicians on biznik to see if they could do some magic for the kids. We already have a belly dancer and a possible musical group. Would be great to have more.)
FOOD TEAM (Team and point person to help prepare food for everyone who is volunteering. Someone is in charge of this, but if a a short order cook, caterer, or someone who can step in to direct is available, she will gladly step aside and be support for him or her) May also need people to get a few more food donations committed. A lot of this has been done.
GREEN TEAM (Person and some helpers to lead on Build Day to ensure that the compost, recycling and garbage bins get used correctly. A local school will be picking up left over cardboard and bubble wrap.)
YOUTH INVOLVEMENT (Team of people--we have a lead person--to come up with appropriate projects for the younger people and then to help make it happen on Build Day.)
Please help us get the word out. I cannot post this on the biznik main pages because it is not a biznik only event. If you know any bizniks who have these talents, please have them contact: Chris helpdelridgeplay@gmail.com 206.499.3733
Thanks, Jenée. I am just as thrilled to have you on this team. We are lucky to have your expertise in getting the word out!
A niece of mine and her partner are on a musical tour of west coast cities. When she saw my posting, she signed the two of them up. I also suggested that they provide some entertainment, as that is what their tour is about. They are from Albuquerque. They aren't Bizniks; so the lunch is still Don and Cindy's.
John, that's great. We are getting a lot of non-bizniks signing up and it is going to be a really fun group building this playground!
Have your musical friends contact Chris helpdelridgeplay@gmail.com 206.499.3733 about playing music or offering other entertainment. I am helping to line up some bands for both the Build Day on the 17th and for the Grand Opening on July 23rd.
Keep spreading the word! Numbers are growing but we still need more people to register as volunteers before July 3rd so that KaBoom! knows we have enough hands to help with all the cool playground stuff they are donating to Delridge.
They have registered and offered their music for the 17th. They won't be here for the 23rd.
Great event! I am booked out so not able to attend - wanted to show my energetic support! :)
Have fun!
Hi, Karrie,
I happen to volunteer with Master Composters/Soil Builders, so I contacted Chris about getting the "Green Team" volunteers covered. I'm not sure of my schedule yet, but I hope to see you there for at least part of the day, perhaps over food scraps!
Thanks John. Sounds like we just need some music and entertainment now for the 23rd. I have asked children's television entertainer Val Thomas-Matson and magician Xakary! if they could perform on either day so I will be excited to hear back from them.
If any of you know of other entertainers suitable for kids and adults alike, please send them to Chris.
Amy, thanks for cheering us on! Maybe you can be at the Grand Opening on the 23rd at 630.
Shannon, this is awesome! We totally need your expertise and guidance so that we have the cleanest, greenest event possible. Glad you are on top of this and thrilled you are participating!
We still have the need for some tools for the build. Here's a message from Parie Hines, our Construction Lead.
We are looking for community members who are willing to loan tools for building the playground. We have had several generous loans from organizations, but still have many tools that we need. Can you (or someone you know) help?
Tools need to be labeled with the owner's contact information and dropped off at the Delridge Community Center on Tuesday, July 14th (or by 9am on Wednesday, July 15th) and picked up after the build on Friday, July 17th (i.e. by the end of the day). The tools will be kept in a secure location in the community center while they are not being used. This is a list of the types of tools we still need:
If you have any of these available, would you please email me at parield@gmail.com ?
Thanks, Parie Hines
Thanks guys! Karrie
Val,
Great to talk with you today and glad to know you and your friends will be joining us for the build. Be sure to sign up everyone, whether they are on biznik or not, through Chris at: helpdelridgeplay@gmail.com 206.499.3733
Yay! So happy your wonderful, yummy energy will be part of this event!
Karrie
One of the coolest things you'll do this summer on 07/17/2009
I am thrilled to see so many people signing up for this event--and it's not even on the main biznik calendar! Thanks for all of your good energy directed toward this wonderful project.
Please be sure to officially sign up with Chris at helpdelridgeplay@gmail.com 206.499.3733 We need to know the exact number so we know how many hands we'll have and how many lunches to make!
Also, please help us spread the word on facebook. Simply open that link and copy and paste the same "Note" to your own Facebook profile page's Notes section. Ask me if you need help.
WHAT WE STILL NEED:
Tools. I posted those in a post above. If you have tools, Contact Parie Hines: parield@gmail.com.
For all of these below, contact Chris: helpdelridgeplay@gmail.com 206.499.3733
People to join the Sandwich Brigade! Help prepare food for volunteers prior to Build Day and on Build day.
Family friendly performers --for Build Day Closing Ceremony on July 17 at 230pm. --for the Grand Opening on July 23rd at 630pm. (Music, magic, fire dancing, anything fun!)
People who want to help organize and tend to youth involvement activities on Build Day. There is a team for this, so tell Chris if you want to be on it.
A few more hands! Keep spreading the word. Think of what a great experience this will be. Who would you want to share it with?
Thanks to John Hays for inviting his friends to play music at the event and for offering a prize to the person who comes from the furthest away! Thanks to Shannon Armitage for rallying people for the Green Team! Thanks to Jenée Arthur for using her media savvy to help us get the word out in the media about this event.
Thanks to all of you for opening your big hearts to this and for spreading the word so we will have plenty of hands to help bring this little miracle to the children of Delridge! What fun!
Again, please be sure to officially sign up with Chris at helpdelridgeplay@gmail.com 206.499.3733.
It will be great to see you all at the event in a couple weeks. I'll keep you informed as things progress. It's very exciting! Happy 4th to you all!
Karrie
I'm just bringing me and my man hands. Sorry for taking my time signing up. I'll be there from 8 till 1 or so, looking forward to it!
So glad your good energy and powerful man hands will be participating with us, Katy. You know I love those man hands! Hey, calm down everyone, she's my massage therapist! And powerful hands, I must say.
This sounds like a great day. If I were not on crutches...
I hope you get enough people plus some.
Ohhh, it kills me to have to take my name off this event as an official participant due to an unavoidable conflict that morning, but with luck I'll be able to get to Delridge by 11 am and pitch in any way I can.
I'll wear my green shirt and see you all there. I'll see what tools I can raid from my husband's stash and let you know. For sure I can bring a shovel.
best - Renate
Hi Everyone,
I'll be driving from Capitol Hill to West Seattle and can give up to 4 people a ride. Send me a message if you'd like to carpool. I will have to leave by 4pm though, so if you plan to stay afterward you might need to get a different ride back... See you all there!
Ruth
An opportunity to play in the dirt? Yes! What we make this day allows many many children to create that memory. Dirt, sand, a swing....Oh the places it takes me...
Can't wait to meet you all. Will bring shovel and smile.
Get your play cap on - Kaboom! deborah
HEY HEY HEY PLAYGROUND BUILDERS!
It's going to be an incredible day tomorrow.
Please read both the biznik email and regular email I sent out yesterday. Very important info.
Please remember: this is not a biznik event. It's a KaBoom! event. We must respect the gracious and generous donors. At no time should we hear someone say "biznik event". Thanks! I was told this is extremely important. :)
See you all bright and early:
630am for the food team
745am for the rest of us
Bring/Wear:
green T-shirts
comfortable shoes
waiver signed (there will be more there)
great energy
water bottle with name and number on it
valuables at home or locked unseen in car
sunglasses
snack if you need more than provided meals
Consider bringing a digital camera or Flip Cam if that feels right to you. Would be INCREDIBLE to have some video of our experience together. There will be professional photographers there as well and possibly some news people.
Parking will be challenging. You cannot park in the tiny parking lot there. You must park in the neighborhood. Arrive early if you don't want to walk a far distance.
USE THIS THREAD to organize rides!
Ruth, above, posted that she has 4 spots in her car from Cap Hill. I'll let you guys figure out the rest.
Many thanks for your big hearts and desire to be a part of this. Can't wait to see all of you and to meet some of you for the first time.
Thanks for your patience with any confusion that has arisen. It's a lot to organize and I am just a small part of that bigger chain of command. I am amazed at how they have put this together and so grateful to be part of it!
See you soon...
Karrie
I was only able to stay for the morning - I had a great time helping build some benches and do a lot of staining of some older benches.
I met a cool woman - Cindy - I think of Don and Cindy fame.
Thanks for organizing this - it was fun!
Thanks Karrie for getting us all involved in this fabulous build party. The Delridge neighborhood is lucky to have you moving in.
My niece, Patricia Morrison, came from Tucson and her singing friend, Mary Shapiro, came from Washington, D.C.; but neither is a Biznik (I'm recruiting them). So, the lunch I offered the Biznik coming the furthest goes to my friend Don Johnston and his wife and business partner, Cindy Weeks.
4501 Delridge Way SW
Seattle, Washington 98106
Fri Jul 17, 2009 8:00 AM
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