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This year comes with an extra reason to celebrate: Playworks has been awarded a $10 million, five-year grant from Lilly Endowment, Inc. >

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Dear John,

In communities across the country, our Playworks teams are busy kicking off another school year and bringing play to thousands of students. From teaching new games and setting up playgrounds to training school staff on how to infuse more play into the school day, there is so much exciting work to be done.

But this year comes with an extra reason to celebrate: Playworks has been awarded a $10 million, five-year grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.

This transformative funding will help us grow programs that use play to nurture essential character traits like teamwork, empathy, and perseverance, all of which are skills that last well beyond the playground. With Lilly’s support, we’ll reach more schools and educators, creating joyful, play-filled spaces where every child can thrive.

Here’s to a school year filled with play, growth, and possibility!

Play on,

signature Elizabeth Cushing.jpg
Elizabeth Cushing
CEO
Playworks

PLAYWORKS FOR. . .

KIDS

		Kids Have a Right to Recess The big news in one state this year: children in Tennessee schools are now guaranteed 40 minutes of unstructured time to play. Did you know that in many states mandate daily recess for all kids? In fact, in some states schools are explicitly not allowed to take away recess time as a punishment. We agree! The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child mandates play as a fundamental right of every child, through age 18. Read A Call for States to Level the Playing Field in School Recess.

SCHOOLS

		Tools to Add Joy to Schools One easy way for educators to add more joy to the school day is by introducing fun, playful claps, cheers, and cooldowns. Using these engaging attention-getters make managing groups easier and more enjoyable. Whether it’s in the classroom, walking down the hallways, during transitions between activities, or coming in and out of recess, these quick and fun tips help get and keep kids focused. Check out some of Playworks' favorite Claps, Cheers, and Cooldowns.

COMMUNITIES

		9/11 Day of Service This month, AmeriCorps Playworks Coaches across the country participated in AmeriCorps’ 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance. From helping deliver meals to supporting families at school fairs, our Coaches embraced a variety of meaningful projects that allowed them to give back to their communities and grow connections as a team.

OUR SHARED FUTURE

		A Major Boost for Our Mission We’re thrilled to share that Playworks has been awarded a $10 million, five-year grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. This transformative support celebrates the impact of our past work and fuels new ways to bring play, skill-building, and connection to kids and communities nationwide. With this investment, we’ll reach more schools, train more adults, and continue creating opportunities for children to grow, learn, and thrive every day. Learn more.

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