A full six percent of all children under age 12 in the United States have a disability resulting in functional limitation. Yet, in many communities, there are no fully inclusive playgrounds. This means that a large population of children in our communities is currently excluded from playground play, one of the fundamental and essential parts of being a kid.
Barriers such as these add to the considerable struggles that children with disabilities and their families already face in connecting with their communities. Additionally, cumbersome care responsibilities, feelings of “being different,” various cultural issues around disabilities, as well as the additional burdens of race and poverty experienced in many communities, work to keep this population in isolation.
Recognizing these challenges, CVS Caremark has partnered with Boundless Playgrounds, Inc. for the past four years to bring more inclusive playgrounds to communities across the country.
CVS Caremark’s signature giving program is “All Kids Can,” a five-year, $25 million commitment to make life easier for children with disabilities and to raise awareness about the importance of inclusion. Boundless Playgrounds’ mission is to build inclusive playgrounds where children with and without disabilities can play together.
Given their common goals, CVS Caremark selected Boundless Playgrounds as a national partner when the All Kids Can program began in 2006, and so far has donated more than $2.75 million to Boundless Playgrounds. CVS Caremark employees have also contributed to the planning and/or construction of more than 50 Boundless playgrounds across the country.
CVS Caremark’s partnership also extends to the board level, where the company’s senior vice president of advertising and marketing, Rob Price, volunteers his expertise while serving on the board of Boundless Playgrounds.
The inclusive playgrounds benefit both children with disabilities and their families, as well as other children – who often shed stereotypes about people with disabilities, form friendships with children with disabilities, and learn that those with disabilities are not so different from themselves, and in fact, have their own unique strengths and abilities.
Features of a Boundless playground include: universally accessible pathways and surfacing, play structures configured to support children’s development, equipment like swings and bouncers with back support, and elevated sand tables and activity panels where children of all abilities can play together.
Today, there are more than 150 Boundless playgrounds in over 28 states and Canada, providing opportunities for thousands of children of all abilities to play together. Thus, CVS Caremark has contributed to the development of more than one-third of all existing Boundless playgrounds, enabling more children to play
on a Boundless playground each year.
How the Partnership Supports CVS Caremark’ Business Strategy
CVS Caremark’s partnership enables Boundless Playgrounds to fulfill its mission by providing services to reach even more communities. With support from CVS Caremark, more children will be able to experience the joy of playing at Boundless playgrounds across the country.
Meanwhile, the partnership benefits CVS Caremark by helping the company fulfill the mission of its All Kids Can program – to increase awareness for the importance of inclusion and to make life easier for children with disabilities.
The partnership also provides CVS Caremark employees with rewarding volunteer and fundraising opportunities, which in turn help the company to retain its employees.
Finally, the partnership helps to highlight CVS Caremark as a company that cares about the important causes of its surrounding communities.
Evaluation and Impact
Play is so important to optimal child development that it has been recognized by the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights as a right of every child.
However, a recent survey conducted by Harris Interactive found that 59% of parents said their children do not have access to a community playground. And according to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are more than 5 million children with disabilities that have even fewer opportunities for inclusive play with their peers at community playgrounds.
Since the CVS Caremark and Boundless Playgrounds partnership was formed in 2006, 51 communities have benefitted from the planning and/or completion of an inclusive playground. Within those 51 communities, nearly 500,000 children with disabilities now have the hope and the opportunity to play together on common ground in a socially welcoming environment.
By playing and interacting together at an early age, children learn to accept and respect the unique abilities of others, regardless of any perceived disability. Furthermore, playgrounds serve to revitalize communities by providing an economic value that draws in new businesses and tourism, increases property value, and attracts new schools.
Through continued support from CVS Caremark, more children will have the chance to learn, play and succeed on the playground, and throughout life.
We thank you for the opportunity to participate, and appreciate the incredible support CVS/Caremark has provided to abused and neglected children in the north and northwest suburbs of Chicago. Please know that your support has been vital in restoring our children and adolescents to health and well-being.
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AWESOME PROJECT! We need one here for one of our therapeutic riding facilities for a siblings program. If anyone is interested in helping to fund something like this in Upstate NY, contact me - http://www.statinc.org CVS gave STAT a grant this year for our ProMISE!!! Thank you CVS Caremark for all the good you do!!!!
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