ATLANTA — The Atlanta Falcons Youth Fund (AFYF), an associate-led fund of the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, and Georgia Power today announced a partnership with KABOOM! to build two play structures for children in Metro Atlanta, while offering a $400,000 Georgia Playspace Refresh Fund for communities to receive up to $25,000 to renovate existing play structures across Georgia. Through this partnership, communities will be provided with new playspaces and funds for improvements for children to remain active in their daily lives.
Beginning today, Georgia communities can submit applications to receive a grant from the Georgia Playspace Refresh Fund to improve their existing playspaces at kaboom.org/gagrants. Possible uses for these grants include building a community garden, adding shade to a play structure, repairing or replacing surfacing, improving or repairing play equipment and much more. The application will remain open for Georgia communities to apply until July 10, 2025.
"The Atlanta Falcons Youth Fund is proud to partner with Georgia Power and KABOOM! for this exciting community initiative to build and improve playspaces in Metro Atlanta" said AMB Sports and Entertainment Senior Vice President of Community Engagement and Sports Philanthropy Chris Millman. "This project directly aligns with the fund's guiding theme of increasing the time kids spend in physical activity, and we look forward to providing new and improved areas for kids to play."
Randolf Medlock Park, the site of the first playground build of the partnership, is the second-busiest park in Stone Mountain, Ga., and serves as a hub for peewee football, soccer, basketball and tennis. Despite its significant usage, the park currently lacks a playspace. With this build, more than 900 kids in the community will have a designated space to play, fostering community and encouraging an active lifestyle. Details on the second play structure will come at a later date.
The partnership kicks off with the first of two Design Days on May 22, where local children will design their ideal play structure. KABOOM! will use these designs and source the materials necessary to build a space that serves kids of all ages. Atlanta Falcons Cheerleaders, Freddie Falcon and representatives from the Falcons, Georgia Power and KABOOM! will all be in attendance as the project launches in preparation for a playground build this fall.
"At Georgia Power, we believe that communities we are privileged to serve should be better because we are here," said Fredie Carmichael, vice president of Corporate Affairs for Georgia Power. "The Atlanta Falcons and the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation share this commitment to service, and we're excited to continue to partner with them, as well as KABOOM! Physical activity is incredibly important for young people and we hope that, by providing new or improved playspaces for local children, we are helping fuel healthy childhoods and communities."
For more information about KABOOM! and this initiative or to apply for a grant from the Georgia Playspace Refresh Fund, visit kaboom.org/gagrants.
