Dear John,

As the warmth of summer approaches, let’s celebrate the importance of play and the joy it brings all of us. On this special day, I want to share some reflections and inspiring stories about how the power of play connects us all.

During the 2023-2024 school year, we had the honor of supporting 609,560 students in 1,370 schools and community based organizations across the country. Our partners and Playworkers spent another school year bringing their exuberant energy to play alongside students, fostering environments where children feel supported, active, and connected.

“Our students love recess time more now than ever,” said a principal at a Playworks school. “Our Junior Coaches are developing in confidence and leadership.”

But our journey is far from finished. As we continue towards our goal of ensuring every kid in America plays every day, we are developing innovative new ways to bring play to new communities. We’re expanding our digital learning and widening our reach with community-based organizations, which will allow us to make our practices accessible to even more adults who uplift kids.

Today, and every day, we are proud to have you on our team.

Play on, 
Elizabeth Cushing
CEO
Playworks
PLAYWORKS FOR. . .
KIDS
Junior Coaches on the Playground
Educators from Lowell Elementary in Milwaukee, WI shared an inspiring story about Junior Coaches, students in our signature leadership program. Lowell’s Junior Coaches have excelled at explaining and modeling recess activities to their peers so that other students can now lead games independently, creating a smoother and more cooperative recess. Not only do they know the rules, they high-five each other and cheer each other on. This is yet another sign that when kids are given the tools and trust to lead, they can create an engaging and inclusive playground experience for all.
SCHOOLS
Play Thrives at Fairbanks, Alaska Schools
This spring, we brought play to schools in Fairbanks, Alaska through a new partnership with the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District.

Our Coaches got creative and adapted games to fit the colder weather and snowy environment on the playground. In a matter of weeks, we reached 1,845 kids and supported the schools in launching their own Junior Coach youth leadership program. Learn more <[link removed]>.
COMMUNITIES
Celebrating Our Blue Shirt District Partners
In celebration of the transformative power of play, we honored two of our partners as “Blue Shirt Districts” this school year,  The North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale School District 622 <[link removed]> in Minnesota and The School District of Philadelphia <[link removed]> in Pennsylvania. Both districts go above and beyond to ensure high quality play and recess are a priority for all students.

During the ceremonies, district staff, Playworkers, and school staff joined alongside students to recognize play’s impact in their schools and enjoy some fun recess games.
OUR SHARED FUTURE
Supporting Student Mental Health
Playworks partnered with the American Academy of Pediatrics for a special webinar focusing on the ecosystem of care for children's mental health and the transformative role of play.

This virtual event brought together medical professionals, educators, and community leaders to highlight the importance of play-based practices in supporting youth mental health across various relationships and settings.


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