Dr Pepper Snapple Group (DPS) and national non-profit KaBOOM! awarded Dante Community Association a $15,000 Let’s Play Community Construction Grant that will be used to build a community playground in the downtown area.
The grant is part of Let’s Play, an initiative by DPS to provide kids and families with the tools, places and inspiration to make active play a daily priority. Unstructured, child-directed play has proven to help kids develop physically, emotionally, socially and intellectually, yet today’s kids have less time and fewer opportunities to play than any previous generation. As a result of expanded Let’s Play grants and projects, more than 1 million kids will benefit from new or improved playgrounds around the nation by the end of 2016.
“Children are our future and whether we teach them or the television does, they will likely carry the values of either forward,” said Carla Glass, Dante Community Association Chair. “I am so very thankful Dr Pepper Snapple Group and KaBOOM! recognize this and are willing to invest in keeping our future generation active.”
The downturn of the coal industry has left many coal towns, like Dante, in despair. Through grantors like Dr Pepper Snapple Group and KaBOOM! we are able to invest in the future generation of our community. The Dante Community Association will utilize this grant for the purchase of playground equipment. The buildout of the playground area will be the first of many projects to transform the downtown area into a historic district with a centralized park with entertainment for all ages.
DPS launched Let’s Play in 2011 with a $15 million commitment to KaBOOM! to build or improve 2,000 playgrounds. In 2014, Dr Pepper Snapple and KaBOOM! extended their partnership through 2016 with an additional $10 million commitment from DPS to continue providing kids with the active play they need.
Visit Let’s Play at www.LetsPlay.com to join the conversation and learn how to apply for the various available grants to make communities more active and playful.
About Dante Community Association
The Dante Community Association was established to aid in the restoration of hope to the Dante community. Through the Dante Community Association, Dante will transform its community into a model town for visitors and one that people will desire to raise a family and grow old in. This will be achieved through radical cleanup, downtown beautification, and enhanced outdoor and youth activities. By partnering with neighboring towns and counties to ensure regional synergies, Dante will once again sees values in the homes, visitors to the town, and a resurrected sense of hope and ultimately pride in this great community, all while preserving the extensive history and small town values. For more information or to make a tax deductible donation, please visit danteva.org or Facebook.com/DanteCommunityAssociation.
About Let’s Play
Let’s Play is an initiative launched in 2011 by Dr Pepper Snapple Group to provide the tools, places and inspiration to make play a daily priority. By 2017, DPS will provide nearly 10 million children across North America with new opportunities to play and be active through Let’s Play. In partnership with the nonprofit organizations KaBOOM! and Good Sports, Let’s Play is working to eliminate the ‘play deficit’ by building and improving play spaces and providing grants for athletic equipment and gear. For more information, please visit LetsPlay.com or Facebook.com/LetsPlay.
About Dr Pepper Snapple Group
Dr Pepper Snapple Group (NYSE: DPS) is a leading producer of flavored beverages in North America and the Caribbean. Our success is fueled by more than 50 brands that are synonymous with refreshment, fun and flavor. We have 6 of the top 10 non-cola soft drinks, and 13 of our 14 leading brands are No. 1 or No. 2 in their flavor categories. In addition to our flagship Dr Pepper and Snapple brands, our portfolio includes 7UP, A&W, Canada Dry, Clamato, Crush, Hawaiian Punch, Mott’s, Mr & Mrs T mixers, Peñafiel, Rose’s, Schweppes, Squirt and Sunkist soda. To learn more about our iconic brands and Plano, Texas-based company, please visit www.DrPepperSnapple.com. For our latest news and updates, follow us at www.Facebook.com/DrPepperSnapple or www.Twitter.com/DrPepperSnapple.
About KaBOOM!
KaBOOM! is the national non-profit dedicated to giving all kids – particularly those growing up in poverty in America – the childhood they deserve filled with balanced and active play, so they can thrive. Since 1996, KaBOOM! has collaborated with partners to build, open, or improve nearly 16,300 playgrounds, engaged more than one million volunteers, and served 8.1 million kids. KaBOOM! creates great places to play, inspires communities to promote and support play, and works to drive the national discussion about the importance of play in fostering healthy and productive lives. To learn why #playmatters and why cities are embracing #playability: visit kaboom.org or join the conversation at twitter.com/kaboom or facebook.com/kaboom.
[…] to knock out is a playground for the youth, and we’ve been fortunate enough to receive a $15,000 grant to get us started. The project is likely going to run double that, so we’ve all been working […]